Chennai, Sep 9 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K.Stalin has written an email to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal asking him to take steps to prohibit the import of single-use plastic lighters for cigarettes.He also demanded a stern enforcement against the illicit import of lighters for cigarettes made of plastic.
In the letter Stalin stated that the industry of matchboxes that was considered to be one of the biggest sources of employment in South Tamil Nadu, was in a negative phase right now.He stated that the matchbox business of South Tamil Nadu was employing around one lakh people with women making up a large portion of the workers.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that the industry of matchboxes of the state is confronting tough competition in the market for exports from Pakistan as well as Indonesia.He added that the cost of imports together with the disruptions in logistics resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic took into account the business of matchboxes of Tamil Nadu.
Stalin stated that in addition the market in India is also facing another obstacle due to single-use plastic lighters for cigarettes that cost just Rs 10 and can serve as substituted for 20 matchboxes.He stated that the lighters that aren’t refillable are causing enormous environmental damage since they are constructed of plastics that aren’t eco-friendly.
In the letter addressed to Minister of the Union, distributed with the media In the letter, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that if imported cigarettes lighters take over the market, it would cause the traditional matchbox industry of the state to a halt and destroying the livelihoods of thousands of people.
He also stated that the industry of matchboxes is one of the main engines driving the development of the local economy in regions of the state not in the presence of agriculture.
aal/dpb
