New Delhi: Over 1.7 million children work as labourers in India's beedi-rolling industry, according to a study by public health organisations and NGOs released on Children's Day on Saturday. Authors of the study urged the government to take urgent measures to address the issue.

A beedi is a hand-rolled cigarette and, according to experts, contains three times the amount of nicotine and carbon monoxide than other cigarettes.

According to NGOs and public health organisations participating in the study, the beedi industry prefers to engage children as their nimble fingers are more adept at rolling beedis.

The study gave an example of seven-year-old Madhabi Khatoon of West Bengal's Murshidabad district. Rolling beedis since she was five, Madhabi's nimble fingers can now roll 400 a day.

"Madhabi does not go to school or play with her friends, as her mother thinks earning is more important than education. She is among the many children whose childhood has been snatched away by the beedi industry," said Binoy Matthew of the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI).

"Unless the government acts now, there is little hope for children like her," he added.
The study says that children in this occupation are made to work up to 14 hours a day with no breaks or holidays and are forced to drop out of school.

"On the health front, because they are constantly exposed to hazardous chemicals and tobacco dust, these children suffer from tuberculosis, postural and eye problems, anaemia, lung and skin diseases," the report said.

"After continuous beedi rolling and exposure to tobacco, the skin on the children's fingertips begins to thin, and they are unable to roll beedis by the age of 45. They have to resort to begging as they know no other trade or occupation," it added.

Besides VHAI, child rights groups like CRY, Butterflies, Pratham, Save the Children, Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Unicef took part in the study.

Suggesting reforms, the study said that the government should immediately enforce the provisions of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 to prevent employment of children in beedi rolling or other hazardous occupations.

Also, since beedi rollers earn as little as Rs.30 per 1,000 beedis on an average and the children hardly get anything, the study also said that there is a need to link beedi workers with vocational training facilities in accordance with local realities to improve and upgrade their skills. IANS