WOMENS IN UNORGANISED SECTOR- with specific reference to Beedi and Cigar

Industry

-Abhijeet Singh Rathore

III year B.A.LLB Section A (BA0140001)

Abstract:
Occupational health hazards are the emerging problems all over the world. Majority of the labor
force belongs to unorganized or informal sectors constitute a vital part of the Indian economy.
The beedi industry is traditionally a female dominated informal sector, particularly in tobacco
processing and beedi rolling. For millions of women today, as in the past, beedi manufacturing is
an occupation in India. The beedi rolling is household occupation engage a large number of
female workers on a daily-wage basis and these workers are constantly exposed to many types of
hazardous substances, which have a potential to cause occupational diseases to the workers and
their families. Very little research has been done on the occupational health, hazards and
psychosocial problems of women workers especially in Asian countries like India. The
researcher will mainly focuses on serious concerns about the working conditions, exposers and
occupational health problems of women beedi workers in India.
Keywords: beedi industry, beedi workers, occupational health hazards, informal sector

Research Objective:

1) To study the socio-economic condition of the workers.

2) To find out the working condition of the workers.
3) To find out the health problem of the workers.
4) To know the psychological problem of the workers.
5) To suggest suitable measures to improve the condition of the workers.

Research Methodology:

Basically research means investigation of the new things and new things means firsthand
experience. The research methodoly used in this paper by the researcher is doctrinal. Doctrinal
research in law field indicates arranging, ordering and analysis of the legal structure, legal
framework and case law to search out the new things by extensive surveying of legal literature

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but without any field work. The researcher at the end of the project will try to give some
remedial actions and strategies which can be adopted to protect women in unorganized sector.

Research Questions:

1) Why more number of employees is engaged in unorganized sector rather than orgsnised
sector?
2) What are the problems which are faced by women workers in Beedi and Cigar Industry?
3) What are the various legislations enacted to protect the workers of unorganized sector?
4) What are the various ways by which the condition of workers in unorganized sector can
be improved?

Hypothesis:

Beedi workers are facing several problems due to their socio-economic backwardness such as
poverty, illiteracy, ill health, poor sanitation and improper housing.

Tentative Chapterization:

Chapter-I: Introduction

Chapter-II: The Unorganized sector-Women Workers

Chapter-III: Problem faced by women worker in beedi and cigar industry

Chapter-IV: Laws relating to women in unorganized sector

Chapter-v: Action and remedial strategies to protect women

Conclusion

Bibliography:

1. Kameswari,J, (1999), Women health work in the Beedi Industry in India, proceedings of
WHO global symposium, 12th and 15th , October.
2. Pande Rekha,(1995), The beedi makers of India, Womens work, Central University,
Hyderabad.
3. Pande Rekha,(2001), Rolling ill health, Health Action,Vol.14,No.8, August.

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4. Prakasamma.M, (1993), The case of Beedi making women, Womens Employment as
improvement and Exploitation, Research paper, paper.No.80, Takemi Program, Harvard
School of Public Health, Boston.
5. Saurabh Mittal (2008). Ocular manifestations in bidi industry workers: Possible
consequences of occupational exposure to tobacco dust, Indian J Ophthalmol. 2008 Jul-
Aug; 56(4): 319322.
6. Shram Sakthi (1991). Published by National Commission for Women, New Delhi.
7. Sushila Srivatsava (1987). Exploitation of women and children in Beedi work, Social
Welfare Journal Published by Central Social Welfare Board, New Delhi

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