In the state of Tamil Nadu, beedi (short Indian cigarette) manufacturers have mostly set up shop in rural areas. 90% of the employees are women who remain in the villages when their husbands leave to work in town. Beedi manufacturing allows them to work at home while taking care of their housework and children.

The companies supply the womenwith raw materials (paper and tobacco) for the production of 1000 beedis, the amount required for a daily salary of about 70 rupees (a little over one euro). However, it is almost always impossible to make 1000 beedis: «most of the time the paper and the tobacco are of poor quality and the companies don’t provide enough of them », as Manveetha puts it.

With the help of the Nava Jeevan Trust trade union and of our Indian partner Fedina, the women working for the beedi industry are coming together and getting organized to improve their working conditions. The showdown can last for years, according to Shrujeshwari: « Some companies have set up measures to thwart our actions, but we have continued to mobilize. We organized a big sit-in in front of the company’s offices. With the support of the city council, we managed to make some progress. Some time later, I received a letter of dismissal from the company. With the help of the trade union, I opposed the letter and sued the firm in court. It’s been three years now, but I won’t give up, I know my rights. »

Manveetha also described her mobilization which has brought results: « We organized a two-day strike to demand more and better-quality raw materials. The companies threatened to reduce our salaries but, after a few days’ pressure, we got more materials to manufacture more and so we managed to increase our salaries. »

This success is an encouragement for Indian women to mobilize! Fedina and Frères des Hommes are supporting them. To get further information about our new project with Fedina click here.