Occupational Exposure and Health Risks in Women Beedi Workers in India: A Review

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 current review mainly focuses on serious concerns about the working conditions, exposers and occupational health problems of women beedi workers in India.