Beedi Workers

 

                                                                   

Beedi Workers

        Once I was on assignment in Mid Bihar, where I found pitiable condition of Beedi workers at Bihar Sharif in Nalanda district. There I came to know that the Beedi workers are working in unorganized sectors or informal sector are mostly illiterate and less paid. Those are divided into three categories. 1. The tobacco growers are mostly farmers, 2. Kendu leaves collectors who are mostly tribal’s and forest based workers and the 3^rd one are those who roll the Kendu leaves with tobacco. They are very low paid laborers, home workers mostly women who are rolling beedis and adding some income to their families.

            Due to availability of cheap labor, transport, large demand and vast market this industry is thriving in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra and some parts of Bihar also. In fact the Beedi is a forest based product and called poor man’s cigarette. A standard beedi contains 0.2 grams of rolled tobacco flakes. As the population increasing so the unemployment is also increasing manifold absorbing men, women and children into this industry. So in some places about 80% workers are women. In Ahmadabad about 90% women are working in this industry. Since as this is an unorganized sector industry so exploitation is reported regarding wages in some parts of the country.

            Due to its deeper drag or inhalation it is about 8 times more harmful than the cigarette. This industry also proved health hazards to its workers, as the workers rolls the Beedies and continuously inhaling its dust causes great risk to their health. They became the victims of Tuberculosis and other serious health issues.

            The country’s largest producer of Beedi is Manglore Ganesh Beedi Works, its daily produce is abot 13 Carore of Beedis, which are distributed from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the company disbursing about Rs 20 lakhs daily to its workers and distributors who are engaged in collection, production and marketing.

Text and Photo by- Ashok Karan,

Ashokkaran.blogspot.com,

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