A delegation of shilotris told the CM in a meeting on Wednesday that the ban would render jobless over 2 lakh people. In the Bai salt area in Bhayander, there are over 27 salt pans occupying 5,271 acres of land, employing over 2,000 shilotris and over 20,000 others in allied work.

Referring to the Union gazette dated November 27, 1997, released by the ministry for Health and Family Welfare, Praful Patil, another convenor for the Mith Utpadak Sangh, said the health department is misleading the government to force the policy of iodised salt on small manufacturers toprop up big companies like Captain Cook, Hindustan Lever Ltd and Tata Salt.

Yashwant Patil, secretary of the Sangh, alleged that the government has only considered the fact that iodine deficiency causes goitre and mental instability in human beings. ``The government has not considered that an excess consumption of iodine could cause impotency, affect mental health as well as lead to weak vision.''

Other organisations are also stepping up the anti-ban movement: the Sarva Seva Sangh, founded by Vinoba Bhave, and the National Alliance of People's Movements, have declared that they will jointly hold a nationwide satyagraha from June 5 against the ban. During the agitation, which is being termed by Sarvodaya workers as the `second' salt satyagraha, plain salt will be sold at around 1,000 centres in the country in defiance of the government diktat, which states that anyone breaking the law will be fined Rs 1,000 or undergo six months imprisonment.

Patil added, "Considering contradictions between nutritionistand scientists over the excess of Iodine, the government should study various areas where iodised salt is required and install iodisation plants in those areas while allow non-iodised salt to be sold in other places around the country.''Among other demands, a separate marketing federation and salt farming corporation are also the Sangh's list.

A meeting was held on Tuesday at the Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal office, where 17 organisations pledged their support to the cause. According to the plan, the Mumbai Grahak Panchayat will break the law and sell plain salt at a few places in Mumbai. ``They will sell non-iodised salt at Churchgate and Bandra stations,'' said Haribaksh Gadodia, chief of the Namak Satyagraha Sangh.

Over 5,000 chhota shilotris will also take out a morcha to the office of the Salt Superintendent at Bhayander on June 5.