As per the data available, there are 49.82 lakh registered Beedi workers in the country out of which 36.25 lakh are women. A number of welfare measures have been taken for the Beedi Workers and their family members, as follows:-
(i) Health care facilities through 10 (Ten) Hospitals and 285 dispensaries. Reimbursement of expenditure for specialized treatments (i.e. Cancer, Tuberculosis, Heart Diseases, Kidney Transplantation).
(ii) Financial Assistance for education to the children of beedi workers from class-I to college/University ranging from Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 25,000/- per student per annum, depending upon class/course.
(iii) Subsidy of Rs.1,50,000/- (per beneficiary) in three (03) installments at 25:60:15 ratio i.e. Rs.37,500, Rs.90,000 and Rs.22,500 receptively for construction of pucca houses, under Revised Integrated Housing Scheme (RIHS) 2016. However, RIHS has now been converged with Pradhan Mantri Awash Yojana.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship have been providing skill Development training to the Beedi Workers and their dependents to engage them in alternative jobs
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shri Rameswar Teli in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.