EMPLOYMNET TO WOMEN IN INDIAN BEEDI INDUTRY AN OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT:

“A CASE STUDY OF NIZAMABAD DISTRICT”

EMPLOYMNET FOR WOMENS IN INDIAN BEEDI INDUTRY

AN OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT: “A CASE STUDY OF NIZAMABAD DISTRICT”

ABSTRACT

Beedi Industry is an agro-forest based, labour intensive industry characterized by low

fixed capital requirements, high wage sensitivity and a strong tendency to shift towards
cheap labour. This industry encompasses workforce involved in the collection and
processing of the two main raw material, tendu leaves and tobacco. There are various

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estimates which indicate different situation on the number of workers involved in this
industry according to Ministry of Labour estimate 41 lakhs or 4.1millions are involved of
these 90% workers are womens therefore, it is regarded as womens based industry. The
Beedi Industry is spread across the country. Most of the beedi making work is carried out
under the contractual, home based, piece rate system. Women and children predominate,
employed for their proficiency, yet ironically paid lower wages and subject to various
exploitation practices, such as rejection of beedies, issue of underweight of raw material,
inferior quality of raw material, non-implementation of various legislations some of which
exclusively related to women workers. The objective of this paper is to explain the
background of the beedi industry, predominance of women in this sector as basic operational
level workers, living conditions of beedi workers especially Womens, Health Hazards in the
Beedi Industry, various Legislative Provisions, Unionization, Scope of the paper is to discuss
the issues related to women workers in the Beedi Industry and to find findings and offer
suggestions on the Employment of Womens in Beedi Industry

Keywords: Women Workers, Unorganized Sector, Exploitation Practices and

Diversification of Work.

I-INTRTODUCTION OF THE STUDY:

1.1 BEEDI INDUSTRY:

Bidi or Beedies are slim, hand-rolled, unfiltered cigarettes. They are also called
“beeris” in countries such as Bangladesh. A beedi consists of about 0.2 gram of sun-dried
and processed tobacco flakes, rolled in a tendu leaf (Diospyros elanoxylon) or tamburni leaf
and held together by a cotton thread. The tobacco rolled in beedies is different from that
used in cigarettes and is referred to as beedi tobacco. Dark and sun-dried tobacco varieties
are used in beedi production. Beedies are available branded and unbranded.

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 The tendu leaf constitutes 60% of the weight of the beedi. The beedi is four to eight
cm in length. The diameter at the closed end is 0.6-0.8cm and the width at smoking end is
0.7-0.9cm. The relatively low combustibility and non-porous nature of the tendu leaves
requires more frequent and deeper puffs by the smoker to keep beedis lit, and is therefore
harder on the smoker’s lungs than cigarettes rolled in paper. Tar levels delivered by beedis
are high, at 45-50 mg/beedi. One study found that beedies produced approximately three
times the amount of carbon monoxide and nicotine and approximately five times the
amount of tar as cigarettes. In India, a beedi costs as little as 20-30 Paise and bundle of 25
beedies costs Rs.6-8, thus beedis are known as the “poor man’s cigarettes”’ as they are
smaller and cheaper than cigarettes.

Tribal people of ancient India used to smoke tobacco in a pipe made from leaves of
trees, from where the practice of wrapping tobacco in a leaf probably originated. Beedi
smoking was mentioned as early as 1711. The description referred to a product the size of
the little finger, containing a small quality of tobacco wrapped in the leaf of a tree and sold
in bundles. Beedis first appeared along the east coast of India in the early part of the
eighteen century and were sold in bundles of 20 to 30 beedis

In India, the beedi industry is regarded as being in the ‘unorganized’ sector. The
term ‘unorganized’ is used particularly in India, and has no formal definition. It is a
commonly used in two different contexts firstly to describe the system of industrial
production, and is similar to the definition of enterprises in the informal sector. The Central
Statistical Organization separates each major sector into ‘organized’ and ‘unorganized’ for
purposes of calculation of value added. In that sense, it has a statistical rather than a
conceptual usage. However, the term more or less concludes with the definition of the
informal sector proposed by the 15th International Conference of Labour Statistics.

In the beedi industry, a large number of unregistered and home-based enterprises

coexist with factory-based manufacturing enterprises. A complete census or a
comprehensive nationwide database capturing important statistics of registered and
unregistered enterprises is not available. The only available database is partial and
fragmented, which makes it difficult to construct a time series on production and
employment in this industry encompassing all types of enterprises. However, the conditions

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of work in the beedi industry raise serious concerns about unethical labour practices which
run contrary to the spirit of the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights, at Work-
a declaration adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 1998. The
Declaration calls on ILO member States to respect and promote freedom of association and
collective bargaining, the abolition of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the effective
abolition of child labour, and the elimination of all forms of discrimination in respect of
employment and occupation. Isolated case studies and media reports indicate that the
Beedi Industry employs a large number of women and children in inhospitable and
exploitative conditions. Labour laws are grossly flouted. The worker’s living conditions are
also poor. The industry therefore presents a typical case where concerned social action on
the part of the government, workers, employers, civil societies and international
organizations is needed to promote and realize the goal of decent work.

Another concern, which has been voiced frequently in the media, by the beedi
associations and the trade unions, relates to the future prospects of the beedi industry.
Fears have been expressed regarding uncertainties facing this industry due to competition
with the cigarette industry and likely impact on the beedi market of tobacco-free initiatives
and anti-tobacco legislation. Competition with cigarettes is likely to be fierce when
restrictions on import of cigarettes into India are withdrawn, in compliance with World
Trade Organization obligations. Any threat to this industry, if real, has very serious
implications in terms of loss of income and craning opportunities for millions of poor
unskilled workers consisting of women and children in overwhelming proportions. These
workers, with hardly any savings or asset base no insurance coverage, would be thrown into
destitution.

1.2 BEEDI INDUSTRY IN NIZAMABAD:

Andhra Pradesh is the largest beedi producer after Madhya Pradesh. It has 6, 25,000
beedi workers (1995) of whom most are in the Telangana region. Out of these, about 4,
27,000 are in the Nizamabad district alone (EPF records). Beedi manufacturing in
Nizamabad started in 1901. Manufacturers like Bandi Laxami Bai Beedi Factory, Shamal
Gangaram Beedi, Lalappa Narayana and Tara Sahab all started manufacturing beedies here
in the 1920s. However, the total strength of labour of these factories did not exceed 2,

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00,000. Prior to 1947, two manufacturers from Gujarat, M/S. Kishan Lal Ram Swaroop and
Shah Himmat Lal set up production but their output was also very meagre. Still later, two
manufacturers Char Bhai Beedi, Saiyed Lal Beedi and Police Mallaiah Beedi also started
production in the district. After 1952, many came from Gujrat as well as from Maharastra.
Heera Lal Prabhu Ram (Gujrat), Sable Wagire (Sambaji Beedi) and Thakur Savrkar (Langar
Beedi) all started production in 1952. Desai Brothers then entered in to the fray in 1953
and even today it is the largest beedi producer here. Since then, every year one or two
manufacturers have been setting up business in the area, and within a decade beedi rolling
became one of the main occupations after agriculture. In Nizamabad 90% of the Employers
are from Maharastra and Gujarat, and they said that they preferred Nizamabad, partly
because labour laws were enforced much less strictly than in their home states, and partly
because workers were so disciplined here. Beedi rolling is still a major occupation here and
the survey revealed that there had not been any decrease in the number of workers.

II-IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY:

The study assumes significance because on one hand womens are getting highly
educated and getting employment in various good employments on the other hand womens
are illiterates or semi-literates who have no other means of work except beedi work and
social sanction do not permit them to aspire and grow like other womens. Beedi industry is
male dominated in terms of power and administration even though 90% workers are
women and it increases the chances of exploitation of women workers at various stages
which is another significance of the study.

III-SCOPE OF THE STUDY:

Present study is carried in the Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh in which
problems of women beedi workers are discussed taking into overall view of beedi industry
prevailing in India. As nature, cause and effect of problems are common in every place of
beedi works therefore a conclusion can be drawn from present the study which is
concentrated in Nizamabad district, this district has highest beedi workers and beedi
establishments in Andhra Pradesh and second largest in India.
IV-OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

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Objectives of the present are as follows
1. To study the origin, growth of beedi industry in India and in Nizamabad district.
2. To study the employment of womens in the beedi industry, various rules and
regulations relating to them and their implementation.

3. To find the nature, cause and effect of various exploitation practices prevailing in the
beedi industry in respect of women workers.

4. To suggest the suggestions for eradication of problems relating to women beedi

workers for their betterment and find the possibility of diversification of
employment.

V-RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION OF THE STUDY:

The technique of random sampling is used in which sample size is 150, which is
selected from the home based and factory based beedi rollers because womens are around
90% employed in beedi rolling to collect the primary data for which questionnaire was
prepared for them and to other related people in the beedi industry. Secondary data is
collected through official records government notifications, books, journals, net search,
previous research works done in this area etc. relating to beedi industry and women
workers in beedi industry.

VI-FINDINGS OF THE STUDY:

 Beedi Industry work is totally occupied by the presence of women workers, in other
words this industry runs due to the involvement of womens at basic operational level
i.e. 90% womens are engaged
 Womens from backward castes, SCs, Muslims and illiterates are involved at large
number this makes them for low bargaining power and less aware of various
provisions for them which causes for their exploitation at various stages.
 As Administration work is totally dominated by the male therefore, there is a high
possibility of exploitation of women beedi workers at various stages such as
underweight, inferior quality of raw material and deliberate rejection of rolled beedies
and other evil practices result in low socio-economic profile of beedi workers

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 Beedi rolling work is done mostly by contracting and sub-contracting systems
therefore, it is difficult to establish employer and employee relationship, which will
cause for non-implementation of various schemes, provisions and regulations
established by the government for women beedi workers. It need to be properly
checked and implemented
 Health provisions, Hospitals, Medical facilities are very much less and are not availed
by the workers due fear of loss of working hours
 In Nizamabad some women engage in beedi rolling as full-time occupation and are
able to roll 800-1000 beedies during an 8-12 hour day. Other women work part-time
while taking care of household activities roll 400-500 of beedies a day
 Beedi rolling is good work for those women workers who do not wish to go out in
search of work. Similarly while taking care of the household activities beedi rolling
work is carried on and help of other family members can also be taken i.e. it provides
employment in house for such women workers
 The demand for facilities under the health scheme reigning supreme over the demand
for other facilities reflects the poor state of health of the beedi workers. Their state of
poverty increases their vulnerability to tobacco-related and other occupational
diseases which leads to their incapacity to do other work and to death
 By and large women roll beedies in their own homes, which are kaccha, small partly lit
and with little ventilation. They cook in the same place, children play near them,
handling the tobacco and tendu leaf and the younger ones sleep beside them, all of
them inhaling the tobacco dust almost continuously
 While the beedi workers Welfare Fund has the potential to contribute towards the
betterment of the living conditions of the workers, the size of the fund is too meagre
to meet the needs of such large numbers of women beedi work spread over
 Workers in the industry, on the other hand, cannot think beyond their present, cannot
envisage a future without the beedi production. For them, beedi making is more than
a profession it is a way of life, inalienable from their existence
 Government of Andhra Pradesh has made many provisions to uplift the living standard
of the workers of beedi industry. In this process government initiated scholarship for
beedi workers childrens, housing schemes for beedi workers, ESI hospitals, Hospitals

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 for Beedi Workers, Minimum wages act from time to time but they are not practiced
and implemented by the beedi establishments.
 Periodicity of payment varies from place to place, mostly weekly and in some places
daily. Fortnightly or monthly wages are paid in the work shed/factory systems
generally. There have been reports of non-payment, irregularities in paying wages.
Women, therefore, have to make frequent visits and are harassed in the process.

VII-SUGGESTIONS:

 Effective Unionization is needed to voice loudly about the women workers, as they are
subject to various exploitations, health problems and other problems.
 Enactment of provisions to uplift womens standard of living and effective
implementation of such provisions are highly needed at this stage.
 Possibility of employment diversification can be looked in a positive so that lakhs of
women workers are suitably replaced with proper re-employment without affecting
their socio-economic status.
 There should be establishment of employer-employee relationship irrespective of
method of working, this will automatically make them eligible to various benefits
provided under the various acts relating to labours and women beedi workers
 Exemption given to unbranded and small manufacturers who produce less than 20
lakh beedies per annum should be withdrawn as it is mostly misused this initiative will
bring some opportunity to the women beedi workers.
 Maternity and other facilities for which women workers are eligible in other sectors
are to be made in the beedi industry irrespective of their method of working.
 Issue of adequate, good quality, of raw material should be ensured as per the law; this
will bring economic stability to the women beedi workers.
 Proper wages should be given, there should be registration of the workers so that they
can get the benefits and identity cards should be issued so that the workers know
which company they are working for.
 Arrangements for free education to the childrens of beedi workers should be made,
Primary education should be imparted to women beedi workers as well.
 Crèches and child care centres should be established to look after female workers’
children so that the children are not exposed to the hazards
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  All the labour laws applicable to beedi industry should be properly amended from time
to time in view of the various changes taking place in the society.

CONCLUSIONS:
Devising an appropriate social policy and a plan of action to remedy the continuing
evils of exploitative practices in this industry and protect the workers from any threat of
prospective, unemployment through sustainable diversification strategies and skill
development require a diagnostic study on the working and living conditions of the workers.
Assessing the threat potential and possibility of their rehabilitation through employment
diversification strategies through enactment of various legislations in the interest of women
beedi workers will definitely cause for the employment in beedi industry otherwise
employment in beedi work will be a risk factor or a threat to the womens.

REFRENCES:
Acharya, Sarthi, Vinalini, Matharani 1991, “Women in the Indian Labour Force”, The Indian
Journal of Labour Economics
Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1996 along with The beedi
Workers Welfare Cess Act, 1976, The Beedi Workers Welfare Cess Rules, 1976, The beedi
Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1976, The beedi Workers Welfare Funds Rules,1976, bare Act
with short note; New Delhi Universal Law book, 2002.
Bhatty, Zarina 1987, “Economic contribution of women to household budget: a case study of
the beedi industry Sage Publication New Delhi
Centre for Women’s Development Studies 2001, “Survey of studies on beedi industry-with
special emphasis on women and child labour”, the centre Publications

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ILO, 2003, “Making ends meet: Bidi workers in India today A study of four states”, Sectoral
Activities Programme
K.V. Eswara Prasad and Anuradha Prasad, 1985, “Beedi workers of Central India: a
study of Production process and working and living conditions” V.V.G. N. L institute
Lakshmi, C.S., 1981, “Encounters with three generations of tobacco and beedi workers”
paper in International Seminar on Women’s Life Cycle and Identity
Mehta, Rasiklal C, 1986, “Home workers in beedi industry” in National Workshop on
problems of home based Workers in India
Mishra, Laxmidhar, 2000, “The beedi industry in Nizamabad district, Andhra Pradesh”,
Oxford university Press, New Delhi
Srinivasulu, K. 1997, “Impact of liberalization on bidi workers”, in Economic and Political
Weekly, 15 March

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