Lok Sabha Question No. 1954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-13
Subject: Engaging Children in Beedi Rolling Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1954 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2023

## ENGAGING CHILDREN IN BEEDI ROLLING WORKERS

1954. DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

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

- (a)whether the Union Government has issued any advisory to the State Governments for strict enforcement of the ban on engaging children under  18  yrs.  in  beedi  rolling  in  private  and  public  dwelling, factories  etc,  under  the  Child  Labour  (Prohibition  and  Regulation Act 1986 and Juvenile Justice Act);
- (b)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  the  Government  is  considering  any  proposal  to  declare beedi rolling as a hazardous process;
- (d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e)whether
- the  Government  has  any  new  proposal  for creating profitable and healthy alternative employment opportunities for the beedi workers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)whether  any  proposal  has  been  announced  for  women  beedi workers  to  protect  their  health  from  the  tobacco  threat  and  to improve their standard of living in the society with dignity and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (f): The Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation)  Act,  1986  as  amended  in  2016 inter-alia  provides  for complete  prohibition  of  work  or  employment  of  children  below  14 years of age in any occupation or process and prohibition of adolescents  in the age  group  of 14 to 18 years in  hazardous occupations  and   processes   including   work   in  beedi   making   or

processing of tobacco.  Further, the Government also framed the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Rules, 1988. The Rules  inter  -alia,  provide  for  District  Nodal  Officer  (DNO)  and  Task Force at district level under chairpersonship of District Magistrate to ensure  that  the  provisions  of  the  Act  are  properly  enforced.  The Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  issues  directions  /  advisories  from time to time for strict enforcements of the Act. The Juvenile Justice (Care  &  Protection  of  Children)  Act,  2015  ensures  proper  care, protection,  development,  treatment  and  social  integration  of  the friendly children in difficult circumstance by adopting a child approach.

The Part A of schedule of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition  and  Regulation)  Act,  1986  contains  the  list  of  hazardous occupations  and  processes  in  which  adolescents  are  prohibited  to work and children are prohibited to help.  The work in beedi making or processing of tobacco has already been included in Part A of schedule. The Ministry of Labour & Employment in collaboration with Ministry of Skill  Development  and  Entrepreneurship  has  been  providing  skill development  training  to  the  beedi  workers  and  their  dependents  to engage them in alternative jobs. The Ministry of Labour & Employment is providing the Health care facility to Beedi workers and their family members  with  a  network  of  285  functional  Dispensaries  and  10 functional hospitals located across the Country and also reimbursement  of  expenditure  for  specialized  treatment  under  the Government  recognized  Hospitals  in  case  of  critical  diseases  i.e. Cancer, Tuberculosis, Heart Diseases, Kidney Transplantation, Hernia, Appendectomy, Ulcer, Gynaecological diseases and Prostate diseases to the beneficiaries.

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