Lok Sabha Question No. 1353 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-07
Subject: Beedi Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: P. KARUNAKARAN, NANDI YELLAIAH, SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1353

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2015

## BEEDI WORKERS

1353. SHRI P. KARUNAKARAN:

SHRI NANDI YELLAIAH:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

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

- (a)the  number  of  Beedi  workers  working  in  various  parts  of  the country, State/UT-wise including Telangana State as on date;
- (b)the various schemes implemented for the Welfare of such workers along with the number of Beedi Workers getting monthly pension in
- various parts of the country including Telangana State as on date;
- (c)the  minimum  daily  wage  of  a  beedi  worker  as  prescribed  under
- Labour Ministry;
- (d)the various measures taken by Government to reduce the effect of
- Tobacco Smelling for Beedi workers;
- (e)the details of Aasara scheme which is to be implemented for beedi workers in Telangana State; and
- (f)the  various  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  social  security and improving the living standards of beedi workers in the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): The number of Beedi workers in the country State/UT-wise is at Annexure-I.
- (b): The various welfare schemes implemented in the country for the Beedi  workers  are  Health,  Housing,  Education  and  Social  security Scheme. No separate scheme for monthly pension is implemented.
- (c): The minimum wage varies from state to state as the minimum wage is fixed by the respective State Governments.

(d): No information is available in this Ministry. However, the Government  has  initiated  action  for  providing  vocational  training  to Beedi  workers  to  manage  alternative  source  of  income  for  better livelihood.

- (e): 'Aasara' scheme is not being implemented by this Ministry.
- (f): The  beedi  workers  are  covered  under  the  Group  Insurance Scheme which provides Rs.10,000/-  for  natural  death,  Rs.20,000/-  for accidental death and Rs.12,000/- for partial disability. Various welfare schemes are being implemented by this Ministry in the field of Health, Education,  Housing  and  Recreation  in  order  to  improve  the  living standard of beedi workers.

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Statement referred to in reply part (a) of the Lok Sabha un-starred question No. 1353 by Shri P. Karunakaran,  Shri Nandi Yellaiah and Shri Sunil Kumar Mondal regarding beedi workers to be answered on 07.12.2015

## Number of Beedi Workers State/UT -wise.

| S.No   | Name of State/UT             |   Number of Beedi workers |
|--------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1      | Gujarat                      |                     42008 |
| 2      | Rajasthan                    |                     42813 |
| 3      | Uttar Pradesh                |                    450228 |
| 4      | Karnataka                    |                    244412 |
| 5      | Odisha                       |                    157753 |
| 6      | Andhra Pradesh and Telengana |                    412984 |
| 7      | Madhya Pradesh               |                   1054652 |
| 8      | West Bengal                  |                   1658401 |
| 9      | Tripura                      |                     13385 |
| 10     | Assam                        |                      9154 |
| 11     | Kerala                       |                     32032 |
| 12     | Maharashtra                  |                    188550 |
| 13     | Bihar                        |                    293916 |
| 14     | Chhattisgarh                 |                     18757 |
| 15     | Tamil Nadu                   |                     79905 |
| 16     | Jharkhand                    |                    113408 |
|        | Total                        |                   4812358 |

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