The\u00a0Kerala \u00a0<\/strong><\/a>Dinesh Beedi Workers\u2019 Central Cooperative Society (KDBWCCS), comprising a number of primary societies spread over Kannur, Kasaragod districts and Vadakara in Kozhikode, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with year-long functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, organising committee chairman and trade union leader K.P. Sahadevan and society management representatives said that when the 50th anniversary of the industrial cooperative society was being celebrated, beedi making was one of the activities of the society as it had already branched off to non-beedi sectors such as apparel-making, umbrella production, food processing and IT sectors. Explaining the history of the cooperative society, which during its peak business period had employed 42,000 people, Mr. Sahadevan said the KDBWCCS was formed in 1969 in the aftermath of a major crisis that beedi workers in the northern Kerala had faced when major beedi manufacturing companies with headquarters in Mangalore closed down their units in the northern parts of Kerala in 1968 in response to workers\u2019 agitation demanding implementation of the Beedi and Cigar Workers\u2019 Conditions of Employment Act that guaranteed minimum wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Left government that came to power in 1967 had committed to the implementation of the Central legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The workers\u2019 share had been fixed at \u20b920, but the then State government had extended \u20b919 as a share capital loan to each worker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the society employs nearly 6,000 workers, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the founding day on February 15, workers, trade union leaders and local people\u2019s representatives would hoist the society\u2019s flag in all the offices and branches of the society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On February 22, Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan would inaugurate a function in Kannur to felicitate retired workers and director board members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similar function would be held at Kanhangad on February 23, the organisers said. The formal inauguration of the function would be done by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on March 9, they added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Society chairman C. Rajan and secretary K. Prabhakaran said that the society\u2019s total turnover in 2017-18 was \u20b975 crore, around \u20b955 crore of which was from sale of beedis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company is annually paying around \u20b918 crore as GST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The society had been bestowed awards by industries organisation for fair business practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n source: http:\/\/www.thehindu.com \/ The Hindu \/ Home> News> States> Kerala \/ by Special Correspondent \/ Kannur – February 13th, 2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Has diversified into sectors like apparel-making, food processing, IT The\u00a0Kerala \u00a0Dinesh Beedi Workers\u2019 Central Cooperative Society (KDBWCCS), comprising a number of primary societies spread over Kannur, Kasaragod districts and Vadakara in Kozhikode, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with year-long functions. Announcing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, organising committee chairman and trade union … Continue reading Golden jubilee of Dinesh Beedi<\/span> Founding day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u20b918 crore as GST<\/h2>\n\n\n\n