Beedi industry gives women ‘freedom to earn, support kin’

Kolkata: Amid the current challenges faced by the beedi industry, a narrative of empowerment emerges from the heart of Bengal, the state with the largest concentration of beedi workers in India. For generations, the beedi industry has played a transformative role in the lives of countless women, providing them with financial independence and enabling them to break free from societal constraints.

“Beedi rolling has given me the freedom to earn my own income and support my family,” shared a beedi worker from Murshidabad district, where 38 per cent of Bengal’s beedi workers are concentrated. “It has allowed me to make decisions about my life and the future of my children.” Another beedi worker said: “Whenever I need to purchase vegetables for cooking, at least I have some amount with me which I get every weekend from rolling beedi. I do not ask my husband for expenses.”

The flexibility of beedi rolling, which can be done from home, has enabled them to contribute to their families’ incomes while managing domestic responsibilities.

“I may not have had the chance to go to school, but I’m determined that my children will receive a good education,” stated a beedi worker from Sagar, Bengal. “The money I earn from rolling beedis is helping me pay for their school fees and books.” Some recent surveys have revealed a positive trend in the education levels of beedi workers’ children: 34.63 per cent are enrolled in primary school and 41.95 per cent in middle school.