According to Shinde, thousands of women in these regions continue to work in the beedi trade despite its hazardous impact on respiratory and overall health, primarily because they have no other source of income. She cautioned that any abrupt shutdown of beedi manufacturing units could leave an entire workforce—already vulnerable and largely unskilled—without immediate alternatives for employment.
Raising the issue before the government, Shinde questioned whether adequate rehabilitation or replacement job opportunities exist for the women who may be displaced if the industry faces regulatory restrictions or closure. She emphasized that policymaking must account not only for public health concerns but also for the economic security of the workers whose survival hinges on this informal sector.
Calling for a balanced, humane, and forward-looking approach, Shinde appealed to authorities to develop a concrete plan that addresses both occupational health hazards and sustainable employment pathways. She stressed that any transition must ensure that the women who have long supported their families through beedi work are not left behind in the process.
In a climate of increasing scrutiny over traditional tobacco-related trades, her intervention draws attention to the complex intersection of public health, rural employment, and gender vulnerability—an issue that may demand urgent policy evaluation in the months ahead.
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