On March 17th 2025 the Ministry of Labour and Employment issued a notification regarding the Welfare Initiatives for Beedi Workers Across India .
It has been revealed that there are a total of 49.82 lakh registered Beedi workers in the country. In a bid to improve the lives of Beedi workers and their families, the Government of India continues to implement various welfare schemes, primarily through the Labour Welfare Scheme, which is managed by the Labour Welfare Organizations in 18 regions across the nation.
Key Welfare Programs for Beedi Workers
The Labour Welfare Scheme comprises three critical components: Health, Scholarship & Housing. Below are the details of the key provisions:
Health Care Facilities:
- Beedi workers and their families have access to healthcare through 10 hospitals and 279 dispensaries.
- The scheme also covers specialized treatments such as Cancer, Tuberculosis, Heart Diseases, and Kidney Transplantation, with reimbursement of medical expenses for such conditions.
Educational Financial Assistance:
- Financial assistance is provided to the children of Beedi workers for education, ranging from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 25,000 per student per annum, depending on the class or course.
- This assistance covers education from class 1 to university level, offering critical support to ensure better educational opportunities for the next generation of Beedi workers.
Housing Support:
- Under the Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS) 2016, Beedi workers are entitled to a subsidy of Rs. 1,50,000 per beneficiary for constructing a permanent pucca house.
- RIHS has been merged with the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), further enhancing the housing support available to Beedi workers.
Additional Government Welfare Schemes
The Government also runs a host of other schemes designed to benefit unorganized workers, including Beedi workers. These initiatives provide support in various areas such as health, life insurance, financial security, and skills development. Some of the major schemes include:
- Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY): A health insurance scheme for low-income families.
- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY): A life insurance scheme for workers.
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY): An accidental insurance scheme.
- Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PMSYM): A pension scheme for unorganized workers.
- Public Distribution System (One Nation, One Ration Card): Ensures access to food security.
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana: Skills training for rural youth.
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Affordable housing for all.
- Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana: Insurance for handloom weavers.
- Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana: Aims to uplift the poorest sections of society.
- Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi): Financial support for street vendors.
A Bright Future for Beedi Workers
These initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to the well-being and empowerment of Beedi workers, who are a vital part of the informal workforce. By offering health care, educational support, and housing assistance, these programs aim to improve the standard of living for Beedi workers and their families, paving the way for a better future.
Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, shared this information in a written reply in Lok Sabha on March 17, 2025, highlighting the continuous effort to address the needs of the unorganized sector workers, particularly Beedi workers, in India.
