I thank Hon'ble @PiyushGoyal for heeding our concerns and taking action to prohibit the import of pocket cigarette lighters, as requested in my...

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed sincere gratitude to Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal following the Union government's official notification banning the import of cheap pocket cigarette lighters. Stalin had formally petitioned the Union Ministry in September 2022, detailing how the rampant dumping of inexpensive single-use plastic lighters from overseas markets was systematically devastating the traditional domestic safety matchbox manufacturing industry based in southern Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the domestic safety match industry, centered predominantly around Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, and Vellore districts, provides direct and indirect livelihoods to more than one lakh workers, a substantial majority of whom are rural women. The influx of illegal and cheap electronic lighters had forced numerous small-scale cottage units to shut down or scale back operations, causing widespread rural unemployment. Stalin stated that prohibiting non-standard lighter imports offers critical economic salvation to this indigenous manufacturing ecosystem.

Stalin praised the Union government for responding positively to Tamil Nadu's representation. He affirmed that the state government will continue championing policy measures that protect traditional cottage industries and safeguard rural employment.