Lok Sabha Question No. 202 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Rehabilitation of Beedi Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 202 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2016

## REHABILITATION OF BEEDI WORKERS

†*202. SHRI SHYAMA CHARAN GUPTA:

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

- (a)whether closure of beedi factories/units has impacted the livelihood of the beedi workers and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  Government  proposes  to  rehabilitate  and  provide alternative employment to the beedi workers rendered unemployed  due  to  closure  of  beedi  factories  and  if  so,  the details thereof along with the expenditure incurred in this regard and beneficiaries therefrom, State/UT-wise;
- (c)whether the Government has any proposal to provide education and vocational training to such workers and if so, the details thereof;
- and
- (d)the  other  social  security  schemes  being  implemented  for  the benefit of beedi workers in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House. ***                                                         ******

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  202  FOR  01.08.2016  BY  SHRI SHYAMA  CHARAN  GUPTA  REGARDING  REHABILITATION  OF BEEDI WORKERS.

- a)  No Madam. However, it is stated that several representations were received from  the  organisations  representing  Beedi  Workers  and  Manufactures regarding the adverse consequences of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare  Notification  No.  GSR/727(E)  dated  15.10.2014  prescribing  85% pictorial  warning on the Beedi packets. In this regard a meeting was held with  all  stake  holders  on  21.04.2016  under  my  chairmanship  and  the concern of this Ministry was conveyed to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- b)  &  c)  The  Ministry  of  Labour  and  Employment  has  taken  steps  to  impart vocational  training  to  the  Beedi  Workers  through  modular  employment scheme  to  provide  them  alternative  source  of  income  to  improve  their livelihood. The details of beneficiaries along with expenditure State/UT wise are at Annexure-A.
- d)    The  details  of  other  social  security  schemes  being  implemented  by  this Ministry for   the benefit of Beedi workers is at Annexure B.

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Director General (Labour Welfare) office of Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India, is currently  administering  different  schemes  under  Beedi  Workers Welfare  Fund  for  the  welfare  of  Beedi Workers.

At present there are 17 Welfare Commissioners covering all the States for effective implementation  of  the  fund.  Since  the  traditional  employment  of  beedi  making  is  perishing  slowly  an endeavor to provide alternate employment to beedi workers has been initiated in the year 2008-09.

2. As  a  part  of  this  initiative  a  project  to  provide  vocational  training  to  these  workers  have  been initiated  in  the  different  regions  of  Labour  Welfare  Organisation  with  the  help  of  the  various  agencies working for this purpose.
3. As a result of the initiatives undertaken by the Welfare Commissioners some beedi workers have been  provided  with  alternate  employment.  In  some  of  the  regions  this  scheme  is  still  continuing  and efforts  are  being  taken  to  provide  sufficient  fund  to  run  the  scheme  in  all  the  regions.  The  region-wise initiatives undertaken by the Welfare Commissioners since 2008-09 are as under:
4. The detailed information of vocational training course wise and region wise are as under:

| Bhubaneswar Region (Orissa)   | Bhubaneswar Region (Orissa)   | Bhubaneswar Region (Orissa)   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Year                          | No. of Participants           | Expenditure (in Rs.)          |
| 2008-09                       | 290                           | 229600                        |
| 2009-10                       | 533                           | 391200                        |
| 2010-11                       | 83                            | 66400                         |
| 2011-12                       | 210                           | 168000                        |
| 2012-13                       | 52                            | 41600                         |
| 2013-14                       | 49                            | 39200                         |
| Total                         | 1217                          | 936000                        |

| Ranchi Region (Jharkhand and Bihar)   | Ranchi Region (Jharkhand and Bihar)   | Ranchi Region (Jharkhand and Bihar)   |
|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Year                                  | No. of Participants                   | Expenditure (in Rs.)                  |
| 2011-12                               | 60                                    | 24000                                 |
| 2012-13                               | 80                                    | 32000                                 |
| 2013-14                               | 40                                    | 16000                                 |
| Total                                 | 180                                   | 72000                                 |

| Jabalpur Region (Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh)   | Jabalpur Region (Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh)   | Jabalpur Region (Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh)   |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                | No. of Participants                                 | Expenditure (in Rs.)                                |
| 2010-11                                             | 310                                                 | 62000                                               |
| 2011-12                                             | 80                                                  | 16000                                               |
| Total                                               | 390                                                 | 78000                                               |

| Bangalore Region (Karnataka)   | Bangalore Region (Karnataka)   | Bangalore Region (Karnataka)   |
|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Year                           | No. of Participants            | Expenditure (in Rs.)           |
| 2008-09                        | 89                             | 17800                          |
| Total                          | 89                             | 17800                          |

| Hyderabad Region (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana)   | Hyderabad Region (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana)   | Hyderabad Region (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana)   |
|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                              | No. of Participants                               | Expenditure (in Rs.)                              |
| 2008-09                                           | 30                                                | 108000                                            |
| Total                                             | 30                                                | 108000                                            |

| Nagpur Region (Maharashtra)   | Nagpur Region (Maharashtra)   | Nagpur Region (Maharashtra)   |
|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Year                          | No. of Participants           | Expenditure (in Rs.)          |
| 2008-09                       | 83                            | 117000                        |
| 2009-10                       | 76                            | 148800                        |
| 2010-11                       | 33                            | 64035                         |
| 2011-12                       | 24                            | 43200                         |
| 2012-13                       | 25                            | 48125                         |
| 2013-14                       | 25                            | 48125                         |
| Total                         | 266                           | 469285                        |

## (a)Bhubaneswar :-

| Year    | Name of the Course                 |   No.of Participants | Expenditure(in Rs.)   |
|---------|------------------------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
| 2008-09 | Fabrication                        |                   79 | Rs.2,29,600/-         |
|         | Agriculture                        |                   08 | Rs.2,29,600/-         |
|         | Electrical                         |                   48 | Rs.2,29,600/-         |
|         | Tailoring                          |                  155 | Rs.2,29,600/-         |
| 2009-10 | Tailoring                          |                  400 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Bicycle & Tricycle repairing       |                   01 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Repairing and Home appliance       |                   24 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | House Wiring                       |                   60 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Information & technology           |                   03 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Basic Computer                     |                   33 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Basic Electrical training          |                   05 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Rewinding & Testing of AC/DC motor |                   01 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Gas pipe welding                   |                   05 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
|         | Basic Fabrication work             |                   01 | Rs.3,91,200/-         |
| 2010-11 | Basic Electrical                   |                   25 | Rs.66,400/-           |
|         | Basic tailoring                    |                   58 | Rs.66,400/-           |

| 2011-12     | Welding     |   45 |                |
|-------------|-------------|------|----------------|
|             | Tailoring   |  165 | Rs.1,68000/-   |
| 2012-13     | Tailoring   |   52 | Rs.41,600/-    |
| 2013-14     | Tailoring   |   21 |                |
|             | Welding     |   28 | Rs.39,200/-    |
| Grand Total | Grand Total | 1217 | Rs. 9,36,000/- |

## (b) Nagpur:-

| Year        | Name of the Course                         |   No.of Participants | Place      | Expenditure(in Rs.)   |
|-------------|--------------------------------------------|----------------------|------------|-----------------------|
| 2009-10     | Machine embroidery Operator 210 Hours      |                   43 | Solapur    | Rs.64,500/-           |
|             | Tailor (basic Sewing Operator) 270 hours   |                   25 | Solapur    | Rs.37,500             |
|             | Basics of Beauty & Hair Dressing 150 Hours |                   15 | Solapur    | Rs. 15,000            |
| 210-11      | Garment Making -Tailor                     |                   24 | Solapur    | Rs. 93,600/-          |
|             | Information & Communication Technology     |                   52 | Solapur    | Rs.55,200/-           |
| 2011-12     | Information Technology- Tally              |                   15 | Tirora     | Rs. 27,000/-          |
|             | Garment Making- Basic Sewing Operator      |                   09 | Tirora     | Rs. 16,200/-          |
|             | Information & Communication Technology     |                   09 | Ahmednagar | Rs.20,835/-           |
| 2013-13     | Information Technology- Tally              |                   15 | Tirora     | Rs. 27000/-           |
|             | Garment Making- Basic Sewing Operator      |                   09 | Tirora     | Rs.16,200/-           |
| 2013-14     | Garment Makin- Tailor                      |                   25 | Tirora     | Rs.48,125/-           |
| 2014-15     | Skill development                          |                   25 | Tirora     | Rs.48,125/-           |
| Grand Total | Grand Total                                |                  266 |            | Rs.4,69,285/-         |

All  the  training  programmes  have  been  conducted  by  industrial  Training  institutes  (lTl's)  of  the Government of Maharashtra except at Tirora (conducted during 20I3-14), this training was conducted by M/s. lndrayani Technical institute, who have been nominated as the authorized agency by Government of Maharashtra for the purpose.

## (c) Ranchi

| Year        | Name of the Course   |   No.of Participants | Place         | Expenditure(in Rs.)   |
|-------------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------|-----------------------|
| 2011        | Agarbati Making      |                   20 | Patna         | Rs.8000/-             |
|             | Agarbati Making      |                   20 | Muzaffarpur   | Rs.8000/-             |
|             | Agarbati Making      |                   20 | Barh          | Rs.8000/-             |
| 2012        | Paper Making         |                   20 | Patna         | Rs.8000/-             |
|             | Paper Making         |                   20 | Muzaffarpur   | Rs.8000/-             |
|             | Paper Making         |                   20 | Barh          | Rs.8000/-             |
|             | Paper Making         |                   20 | Dalsingsarai  | Rs.8000/-             |
| 2013        | Paper Making         |                   20 | Chatra        | Rs.8000/-             |
|             | Paper Making         |                   20 | Chakardharpur | Rs.8000/-             |
| Grand Total | Grand Total          |                  180 |               | Rs. 72,000/-          |

The  Labour  Welfare  Organisation  had  organised  this  training  with  the  help  of  Khadi  Village Industries Commission, Patna.

## (d) Jabalpur

| Year        | Name of the Course                   |   No.of Participants | Place                   | Expenditure(in Rs.)   |
|-------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2010-11     | Soft toys, Agarbatti&Mombatti making |                   60 | Shankargrh, Sagar       | Rs.12000/-            |
|             |                                      |                   64 | Rehli, Sagar            | Rs.12,800/-           |
|             |                                      |                   50 | Khurai, Sagar           | Rs.10,000/-           |
|             |                                      |                   56 | Garhakota, Sagar        | Rs.11200/-            |
|             |                                      |                   80 | Deori, Sagar            | Rs.16,000/-           |
| 2011-12     |                                      |                   80 | Central Hospital, Sagar | Rs.16,000/-           |
| Grand Total | Grand Total                          |                  390 |                         | 78,000                |

## (e) Bangalore:-

| Year        | Name of the Course   |   No.of Participants | Place                                     | Expenditure(in Rs.)   |
|-------------|----------------------|----------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
| 2008-09     | SalwarKameez making  |                   89 | Beedi Workers colony at Kengeri Bangalore | Rs. 17,800/-          |
| Grand Total | Grand Total          |                   89 |                                           | Rs.17,800/-           |

The Labour Welfare Organisation had organised this training with the help of Regional Vocational Training  Institute  for  women,  Government  of  India,  Ministry  of  Labour&  Employment  Hosur  Road,  and Bangalore.

Also, after this training the union leader of the area had talks with nearby garment factory owners, who promised to give their work to these workers and 75% of these workers are now employed in the nearby garment factories.

## (f) Hyderabad

| Year    | Name of the Course   |   No.of Participants | Place      | Expenditure(in Rs.)   |
|---------|----------------------|----------------------|------------|-----------------------|
| 2008-09 | Tailoring            |                   30 | Karimnagar | Rs.1,08,000/-         |

In addition to the above Government of India has started skill development programme to provide skill  training  to  these  workers.  Recently  the  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  has  also  enhanced  the stipend  amount  for  the  wards  of  beedi  workers  who  are  undergoing  ITI  training  to  Rs.  10,000/-  per annum.

## 5. Gender wise details of Participant of Vocational Training are as under:

| Number of Participant   |   Number of Participant |
|-------------------------|-------------------------|
| Male                    |                    1093 |
| Female                  |                    1079 |
| Total                   |                    2172 |

## SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES FOR BEEDI WORKERS

The following financial assistance under are being provided to the beedi workers and their families:-

## 1. Group Insurance :

Beedi  Workers  are  covered  under  group  insurance  scheme  wherein  a  financial assistance of Rs.10,000/-  in case of  natural death/-  and Rs. 25,000/- in case of accidental death is given by LIC.

## 2. Financial assistance to the daughters of Widow/widowers of beedi workers .

Financial assistance of Rs. 5000/- is given to the widow/widower of the beedi workers under social security scheme for wedding of their first two daughters.

## 3. Funeral expenses:

An amount of Rs. 1500/- is given for the funeral expenses of the deceased workers.

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