2.2 lakh beedi rollers left reeling by coronavirus lockdown

The 60-day lockdown has left over 2.2 lakh beedi rollers, mostly of them housewives earning a little extra income, staring at bleak future in Udipi and Mangaluru district of coastal Karnataka.

Beedi rolling is important in the economy of coastal Karnataka, particularly Udipi and Mangaluru Moreover, it is a self employment generation for the women, who look after their family as well as generate revenue for small expenditure.

It is estimated that over 2.2 women are involved in beedi rolling, who earn anywhere Rs 150-200 beedis, each rolling over 800-1000 beedis per day. The entire industry employs over three lakh people from the two districts.

"About 90 percent of beedi laborers are women. We have about 2.20 lakh people involved in beedi rolling in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district.

Even if we consider that on an average a beedi roller gets Rs 150 per day that will sum up to Rs 3.30 crore per day in DK and Udupi districts. It is really a huge amount.

It is a big loss to the sector as well as the laborers," South Kanara Beedi Workers Federation president Balakrishna Shetty told Deccan Chronicle.

During the 60-day lockdown, the total loss of revenue for beedi rollers itself is over Rs 180 crore!

This huge sum which would have been distributed among the grassroot level employees has failed to reach the people due to the lockdown.

"Had beedi rolling continued during the lockdown, it would have generated money as well as job to the rural people. Many men were unable to go to work during the lockdown. They would have helped in rolling beedis. This would have maintained the rural economy to some extent," Shetty feels.

"Due to the lockdown, all these beedi rollers are in distress. They are in deep problems. The government has neither declared any package for them nor provided any assistance. All the beedi rollers are from  poor family. The government should provide at least Rs 200 per day for the beedi rollers," he demanded.

Shetty said that despite relaxation, confusion continues and the beedi workers continue to suffer.

If this is about the beedi rollers, the sector too is suffering as the industry is unable to get the raw materials as well as unable to sell beedis.

Tendu leaves (used to roll beedi) are supplied from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Every year they are plucked during summer but this time the lockdown is said to have shown its impact.

Lockdown seems to have the supply of these leaves also as transportation too was affected for some days. It is not just the local market for beedis.

They are also sent to other states and also exported to other countries. But all these have come to a standstill now, making those involved with the industry to stare at a bleak future.