One day workshop
On 25/7/2023, a one-day discussion program was organized on the social security of BD workers under the joint aegis of Nagrik Adhikar Manch Jabalpur and Parvi New Delhi at the local hotel The Galaxy Madan Mahal. A total of 25 BD workers from Parswada and Moharia, Jabalpur and Samastipur, Bihar were present in this program.
Surendra ji (Jawahar Jyoti Child Development Centre, Bihar) you said that while describing the economic and social condition of beedi workers of Bihar, you said that mainly Muslim community is mostly employed in this work and while narrating about the condition of beedi workers of other communities, He said that the condition of beedi workers is pitiful. The amount of hard work a worker puts in making beedis, he does not get paid accordingly and the raw material is also inadequate. For making 1000 beedis, one gets Rs 80. Even after this, the work of sorting the finished goods is done. In case of shortage of goods, money is deducted. Describing the social situation of Bihar, you said that most of the people work in beedi labor because there women are not allowed to come out of their homes due to conservatism and male dominance. Even today 80 percent people do not go to school there. Due to not going to school, ignorance is spread there due to which other employment is not available. Women are found more in this work because they are neither allowed to study nor get education, so due to compulsion they have to earn money by making beedis while staying at home. For some people, this work has been going on from generation to generation.
Shahida ji (Jawahar Jyoti Bal Vikas Kendra Bihar) You told that in Bihar, a beedi laborer gets Rs 80 for making 1000 beedis in a day and these 1000 beedis can be made with the help of 4 or 5 people. Due to such low wages, there is so much inflation. Due to this, it is very difficult to meet the household expenses and children’s education expenses. Apart from this, it takes a lot of hard work to make it and one also has to face problems like hand pain, back pain, watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes etc.
Vibha Kumari ji (Jawahar Jyoti Child Development Centre, Bihar) while discussing the problems of beedi workers of Bihar, you said that there is more dominance of men there who do not allow women to go out. In such situations, women want to study and write and even if they have some education, they are not allowed to go out, in such situations they have to do beedi labour.
While discussing the problems of beedi workers, Pranab Kumar Bose (labor leader and president of Nagrik Adhikar Manch) said that these workers are not given as much salary as they should be given. Giving the example of workers in the organized sector and the unorganized sector, he said that the workers who are organized have their own dominance and on the strength of their organization they can attract the attention of the government or the employer towards their problems. Unorganized sector workers like beedi workers have to face many problems due to lack of knowledge about their interests and their rights. Problems like not getting raw material in sufficient quantity, low wages, not getting social security or medical services, not getting pension even after working for many years, contractors only looking out for their own interests, making workers work harder for less wages etc. Have to face. Further, you told that while making the BD workers aware, it was told that the Constitution has given us the right to form an organization for our rights, security and progress, so that we can develop ourselves and take care of our future generations. He said that beedi workers do not organize their work due to fear or lack of proper resources, material or awareness. Some women think about what they have to do by forming an organization. We do this just to pass time and earn some income, due to this thinking they ignore their own hard work and hinder their development. Bose ji explained to the BD workers that we should form our own organization. This work is mostly done by women. He encouraged women and stressed upon them to form organizations. So that he can respect his work and get the right price for his hard work. He told that in beedi work, the owners benefit more than the workers and he suggested to organize the workers by making them aware. So that their development and economic growth can be strengthened.
