Gainfully employed? An inquiry into bidi-dependent livelihoods in Bangladesh

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study sought to increase government, civil society and media attention to the tobacco–poverty connection in Bangladesh, particularly as it relates to bidi-dependent livelihoods.Data sourcesThis study consisted of a literature review that examined the socioeconomic impacts of tobacco farming, the working conditions of tobacco workers and the impact of tobacco on consumers, and a primary research study among bidi workers and users. The research included in-depth and semistructured interviews and focus group discussions among bidi workers and a closed-ended quantitative survey among bidi users.Data synthesisMost bidi worker families earn about $6.40 per 7-day work week, leaving them below the poverty line. The majority of bidi workers are women and children, classified as unpaid assistants, who toil long hours in toxic environments. Bidi users are primarily low-income earners who spend up to 10% of their daily income on bidis; the average proportion of income spent on bidis decreased as income increased. If bidi expenditures were reduced and spent instead on food or local transportation, many higher value jobs could be created. This could also mean better health and nutrition for those currently engaged in bidi work.ConclusionsThe results of this study illustrate the linkages between tobacco and poverty. Tobacco control is not simply about health and the environment, but also about the living conditions of the poorest of the poor. If we are to improve the lives of the poor, we must address the root causes of poverty, which include the production and use of tobacco.

Percentage of income spent on tobacco and intention to quit: a cross-sectional analysis of the JASTIS 2020 study

“…The finding that low-income smokers spend a higher percentage of income on tobacco than high-income smokers was consistent with the results from previous similar studies [17,[21][22][23]. In the present study, this disparity is due to the large difference in household income levels because both annual tobacco spend and price per pack of tobacco products were lower in lower-income groups than in higher-income groups.…”

Estimates of the economic contributions of the bidi manufacturing industry in India

“…Roy et al 52 examine this effect by measuring the perceived economic importance of the bidi industry in Bangladesh. The authors estimate that poor smokers on an average spend 4.5% of their daily income to purchase bidis.…”

Occupational exposures among women beedi workers in Mysore District, India: A mixed-methods study protocol

“…A hand-rolled tobacco cigarette in India and Bangladesh is called a beedi , whereas in Indonesia it is referred to as kretek [ 1 – 3 ]. The process of making beedis includes collecting tendu leaves to serve as the wrapper and then rolling the tobacco within them.…”