jewellers, dependants on one-day strike

Nearly 800 persons connected with the jewellery business today observed a one day strike, seeking withdrawal of one per cent duty on gold ornaments as proposed in the Budget.
Their other demands include withdrawal of provision of making PAN card mandatory for customers and doing away with the one per cent TDS on the purchase of Rs two lakh worth gold ornaments, Krishnamurthy, convenor, Federation of Jewellery makers and workers association, said.
With more than 600 jewelleries in the city, there are 2,500 ornaments makers, 10,000 gold smiths and more than 50,000 workers depended on this business, he claimed.
Members of Coimbatore Jewellers Association, Jewellery Manufacturers Association and Bullion Merchants association partcipated in the strike.