Lok Sabha Question No. 4673 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-23
Subject: Beedi Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Sudheer Gupta, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4673

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2020

## BEEDI WORKERS

4673. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)the estimated number of employees associated with Beedi industries,
- State/UT-wise;
- (b)the names of the countries to which Beedi was exported during each of  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  year  along  with  foreign revenues earned therefrom, country-wise;
- (c)whether it is a fact that majority of the Beedi workers are suffering from  multiple  illness  due  to  continuous  exposure  to  tobacco  and
- other hazardous substances and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)the  details  of  the  schemes/measures  taken  by  the  Government  to improve  the  working  conditions  and  health  of  the  Beedi  workers particularly women;
- (e)the details of the funds allocated by the Government during each of
- the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
- (f)the  further  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  the
- working conditions of Beedi workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): The  data  on  estimated  number  of  employees  associated  with Beedi  industries  is  not  maintained  centrally,    however,  the  number  of Beedi workers involved in Beedi rolling occupation is at Annexure - 'A'.

- (b): The country-wise Beedi exported for the period from the FY 201617 to FY 2019-20 and foreign revenues earned therefrom is enclosed at Annexure - 'B'.
- (c): Health scheme facilities under Ministry of Labour & Employment specifically  address  the  health  issues  &  illnesses  among  the  beedi workers.
- (d): The details of the schemes / measures taken by the Government to improve the working conditions and health of all the Beedi workers (not specific to any gender) are given below:

## Health Scheme

Health care facilities are being provided to Beedi workers and to their  dependents  through  10  Hospitals  and  286  Dispensaries  located across  the  country.  Expenditure  for  specialized  treatment  taken  by Beedi  workers  and  their  dependents  under  Government  recognized

Hospitals in case of critical disease are reimbursed.

## Housing Scheme

A subsidy of Rs. 1,50,000/-  was released in three installments on 25:60:15 ratio (First as advance, second on reaching the lintel level and third after receipt of inspection report that the construction of houses has been completed in all respect) for construction of houses to Beedi workers. Under this scheme, subsidy is released through DBT.

Now, the scheme is converged with the universal Pradhan Mantri

Awas Yojana.

## Scholarship Scheme

Financial assistance for education, ranging from Rs. 250/- to   Rs. 15,000/- per annum is being given to the wards of Beedi workers who have put in at least six months of continuous service.

- (e): The details of the funds allocated by the Government during each of the last three years and the current year, region-wise, is at Annexure - 'C'.
- (f): Apart  from  the  schemes  given  in  the  reply  of  part  (d)  of  the question, the Beedi workers, being a part of unorganised workers are also entitled to the following benefits:

(i)  The  converged  scheme  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Jeevan  Jyoti  Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is being  implemented  to  provide  for  life  and  disability  cover  to  such workers, depending upon their eligibility. Government of India and State Government pay the annual premium in equal share. (ii)  Pradhan  Mantri  Shram  Yogi  Maan-Dhan  Yojana  for  old  age protection in the form of minimum assured monthly pension of          Rs. 3,000/- on attaining the age of 60 years. The unorganised workers in the age group of 18-40 years whose monthly income of Rs.15,000/- or less and  not  a  member  of  EPFO  /  ESIC  /  NPS  (Govt.  funded)  can  join  the scheme.  It  is  a  contributory  scheme  wherein  50%  of  the  monthly contribution is payable by the beneficiary and equal matching contribution is paid by the Central Government.

***                                                       *****

Annexure referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (a)  of  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  4673  for 23 .03.2020 regarding Beedi Workers.

## State / UT / region - wise details of registered Beedi Workers

603076

| Sl.No.   | Name of Region   | Name of State/UT          | Total     |
|----------|------------------|---------------------------|-----------|
| 1.       | Ahmedabad        | Gujarat                   | 39011     |
| 2.       | Ajmer            | Rajasthan                 | 38791     |
| 3.       | Allahabad        | Uttar Pradesh             | 412757    |
| 4.       | Bangalore        | Karnataka                 | 295501    |
| 5.       | Bhubaneswar      | Odisha                    | 208212    |
| 6.       | Hyderabad        | Andhra Pradesh/ Telangana | 458040    |
| 7.       | Jabalpur         | Madhya Pradesh            | 440556    |
| 8.       | Kolkata          | West Bengal               | 1829203   |
| 9.       | Guwahati         |                           | 24398     |
| 10.      | Kannur           | Kerala                    | 40276     |
| 11.      | Nagpur           | Maharashtra               | 155089    |
| 12.      | Patna            | Bihar                     | 296972    |
| 13.      | Raipur           | Chhattisgarh              | 3893      |
| 14.      | Tirunelveli      | Tamil Nadu                | 603076    |
| 15.      | Ranchi           | Jharkhand                 | 136519    |
|          | Total            |                           | 49,82,294 |

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4673 for 23 rd March, 2020 regarding Beedi Workers.

Export of Beedi from India to different countries during the last three Financial Years and current Financial Year (April-December)

|            |                                      |                   | 2016-17    | 2016-17            | 2017-18    | 2017-18            | 2018-19    | 2018-19            | 2019-20 (Apr-Dec)   | 2019-20 (Apr-Dec)   |
|------------|--------------------------------------|-------------------|------------|--------------------|------------|--------------------|------------|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|
| ITCHS Code | Description                          | Country of Export | Qty in Ton | Val in Million US$ | Qty in Ton | Val in Million US$ | Qty in Ton | Val in Million US$ | Qty in Ton          | Val in Million US$  |
| 24031921   | BIRIS,OTHER THAN PAPER ROLLED BIRIS, | AFGHANISTAN       | 47.50      | 0.42               | 38.39      | 0.50               | 32.00      | 0.37               | 14.00               | 0.24                |
|            |                                      | ARGENTINA         | 0.11       | 0.00               |            |                    |            |                    | 0.60                | 0.01                |
|            |                                      | BAHAMAS           |            |                    |            |                    | 0.00       | 0.00               |                     |                     |
|            | MANUFACTURED                         | GRENADA           |            |                    |            |                    | 0.02       | 0.00               | 1.64                | 0.04                |
|            | WITHOUT THE AID                      | IRAN              | 15.52      | 0.11               |            |                    |            |                    |                     |                     |
|            | OF MACHINE                           | KENYA             |            |                    |            |                    | 0.00       | 0.00               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | MALAYSIA          | 9.94       | 0.06               |            |                    | 8.60       | 0.12               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | MAURITIUS         | 0.74       | 0.00               |            |                    |            |                    |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | MONTSERRAT        |            |                    |            |                    | 0.04       | 0.00               | 0.01                | 0.00                |
|            |                                      | MOZAMBIQUE        |            |                    | 0.00       | 0.00               |            |                    |                     | 0.00                |
|            |                                      | NAMIBIA           |            |                    |            |                    |            |                    | 0.18                |                     |
|            |                                      | NEPAL             | 0.64       | 0.00               | 6.87       | 0.11               | 0.42       | 0.01               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | NETHERLAND        |            |                    |            |                    | 0.70       | 0.01               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | NETHERLANDANTIL   | 23.01      | 0.38               | 31.60      | 0.75               | 13.40      | 0.23               | 2.62                | 0.02                |
|            |                                      | NEW ZEALAND       |            |                    |            |                    | 0.02       | 0.00               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | OMAN              |            |                    |            |                    |            |                    | 5.30                | 0.11                |
|            |                                      | PANAMA REPUBLIC   |            |                    |            |                    | 4.00       | 0.11               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | PERU              |            |                    | 1.00       | 0.01               |            |                    |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | SENEGAL           |            |                    | 1.30       | 0.03               | 0.70       | 0.02               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | SIERRA LEONE      |            |                    |            |                    | 0.01       | 0.00               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | SINGAPORE         | 6.08       | 0.13               | 11.69      | 0.26               | 32.48      | 0.86               | 14.54               | 0.27                |
|            |                                      | SOMALIA           |            |                    |            |                    | 0.03       | 0.00               | 12.00               | 0.30                |
|            |                                      | SOUTH AFRICA      | 0.11       | 0.00               | 5.44       | 0.07               | 41.60      | 0.29               | 1.40                | 0.03                |
|            |                                      | SRI LANKA DSR     | 10.00      | 0.00               |            |                    | 34.01      | 0.55               |                     |                     |
|            |                                      | ST LUCIA          | 0.21       | 0.00               |            |                    | 0.06       | 0.00               |                     |                     |

|                      |                      | SWITZERLAND          | 2.37   | 0.08   | 0.53   | 0.02   | 0.05   | 0.00   | 0.25   | 0.01   |
|----------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
|                      |                      | TANZANIA REP         |        |        |        |        | 10.00  | 0.16   |        |        |
|                      |                      | TRINIDAD             | 1.04   | 0.03   | 1.20   | 0.03   | 1.57   | 0.04   | 8.05   | 0.18   |
|                      |                      | U ARAB EMTS          | 271.55 | 4.10   | 187.79 | 3.12   | 183.32 | 3.51   | 50.89  | 0.68   |
|                      |                      | U S A                | 8.36   | 0.19   | 2.00   | 0.04   | 3.57   | 0.11   | 1.60   | 0.04   |
|                      |                      | YEMEN REPUBLC        |        |        |        |        |        |        | 8.45   | 0.19   |
|                      |                      | ZAMBIA               | 23.20  | 0.31   | 65.03  | 0.44   | 106.40 | 1.32   | 96.41  | 1.69   |
| 24031929             | OTHER BIRIS          | AFGHANISTAN          |        |        | 10.00  | 0.02   |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | AUSTRALIA            | 3.40   | 0.03   | 1.60   | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | BELGIUM              | 0.04   | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | KAZAKHSTAN           |        |        |        |        | 0.05   | 0.00   |        |        |
|                      |                      | NAMIBIA              |        |        |        |        |        |        | 1.60   | 0.01   |
|                      |                      | NEPAL                | 3.87   | 0.02   | 9.35   | 0.02   | 2.75   | 0.01   | 6.30   | 0.02   |
|                      |                      | NETHERLANDANTIL      | 0.50   | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | NEW ZEALAND          | 0.24   | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | PHILIPPINES          | 0.03   | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | SAUDI ARAB           | 0.08   | 0.00   | 0.40   | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | SOUTH AFRICA         | 2.18   | 0.02   | 0.68   | 0.01   |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | SRI LANKA DSR        |        |        | 14.00  | 0.00   |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | ST KITT N A          |        |        |        |        | 0.04   | 0.00   |        |        |
|                      |                      | ST LUCIA             |        |        |        |        | 0.07   | 0.00   | 0.06   | 0.00   |
|                      |                      | SWITZERLAND          | 0.70   | 0.03   |        |        |        |        |        |        |
|                      |                      | TRINIDAD             |        |        |        |        |        |        | 1.63   | 0.04   |
|                      |                      | U ARAB EMTS          | 6.46   | 0.05   |        |        | 1.00   | 0.01   |        |        |
|                      |                      | U S A                | 1.72   | 0.05   | 0.84   | 0.01   | 0.29   | 0.00   | 0.04   | 0.00   |
|                      |                      | ZAMBIA               |        |        | 1.00   | 0.01   | 0.83   | 0.01   |        |        |
| Total Export of Biri | Total Export of Biri | Total Export of Biri | 439.60 | 6.03   | 390.70 | 5.44   | 478.00 | 7.75   | 227.56 | 3.89   |

## Figures for 2019-20 are provisional and subject to change

Sources: Information as received from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry .

Annexure referred to in reply to part (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4673 for 23 rd March, 2020 regarding Beedi Workers.

(Rs. in thousand)

| Regions       |   Grand Total BE 2016-17 |
|---------------|--------------------------|
| Head quarters |                   559319 |
| Ajmer         |                   164402 |
| Allahabad     |                   127268 |
| Bangalore     |                   479758 |
| Bhubaneswar   |                   241272 |
| Hyderabad     |                   439867 |
| Jabalpur      |                   277796 |
| Ranchi        |                   190327 |
| Kolkata       |                   406077 |
| Nagpur        |                   138314 |
| Total         |                  3024400 |

| Regions       |   Grand Total BE 2017-18 |
|---------------|--------------------------|
| Head quarters |                  1657132 |
| Ajmer         |                   184051 |
| Allahabad     |                   151266 |
| Bangalore     |                   273784 |
| Bhubaneswar   |                   241074 |
| Hyderabad     |                   359009 |
| Jabalpur      |                   308483 |
| Ranchi        |                   218123 |
| Kolkata       |                   250151 |
| Nagpur        |                   126083 |
| Total         |                  3800000 |

| Regions       |   Grand Total BE 2018-19 |
|---------------|--------------------------|
| Head quarters |                   579477 |
| Ahmedabad     |                   100438 |
| Ajmer         |                    79669 |
| Chandigarh    |                     2703 |
| Dehradun      |                    11294 |
| Allahabad     |                    73006 |
| Kannur        |                    45022 |
| Bangalore     |                   164353 |
| Barbil        |                    30655 |

| Bhubaneswar   |   151047 |
|---------------|----------|
| Tirunelveli   |   105819 |
| kalichedu     |     5120 |
| Hyderabad     |   113535 |
| Raipur        |    55970 |
| Indore        |     2451 |
| Jabalpur      |   163892 |
| Patna         |    97361 |
| Barajamda     |    17745 |
| Guwahati      |    86317 |
| Karma         |    73073 |
| Kolkata       |   302384 |
| Nagpur        |   159769 |
| Total         |  2421600 |

| Regions       |   Grand Total BE 2019-20 |
|---------------|--------------------------|
| Head quarters |                   257050 |
| Ahmedabad     |                    77416 |
| Ajmer         |                   113300 |
| Chandigarh    |                     3810 |
| Dehradun      |                     8457 |
| Allahabad     |                   106693 |
| Kannur        |                    49338 |
| Bangalore     |                   200000 |
| Barbil        |                    57477 |
| Bhubaneswar   |                   131853 |
| Tirunelveli   |                   131942 |
| kalichedu     |                     9670 |
| Hyderabad     |                   151218 |
| Raipur        |                    65428 |
| Indore        |                     4900 |
| Jabalpur      |                   188229 |
| Patna         |                    91587 |
| Barajamda     |                    22415 |
| Guwahati      |                   235556 |
| Karma         |                      270 |
| Kolkata       |                   257965 |
| Nagpur        |                   205426 |
| Total         |                  2370000 |