There
are about one and a half lakh bidi workers in Gujarat, of which
15,000 are based in Ahmedabad city alone. There are bidi workers
in small towns of North Gujarat as well - in Patan, Vijapur, Palanpur,
Kheralu, Prantij, and Deesa. In Gujarat, all bidi rollers
are piece-rate home-based workers.
In
organised sector, the bidi industry is among the few trades which
is regulated by a law - the Bidi and Cigar Workers Act and Welfare
Act. Under the Act, a welfare fund has been established and workers
obtain scholarships and school uniforms for their children, maternity
benefits, health services, housing, life insurance, and sports
and recreational services. Funds for these social security services
come from a cess levied on all employers in the bidi industry.
Organising
Bidi Workers in 1999
No |
Activities |
women |
Rs. |
Meetings |
1 |
Wage Increase |
3000 |
4320000 |
- |
2 |
Identity card |
250 |
- |
100 |
3 |
Meeting with bidi owners & contractors |
5500 |
- |
100 |
4 |
meetings with government |
50 |
- |
15 |
5 |
Sammelan |
16000 |
- |
7 |
6 |
Rallies |
200 |
- |
1 |
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