Beedi
A beedi (also spelled bidi
History
Beedies were invented after Indian tobacco cultivation began in the late 17th century. Tobacco workers were the first to create them by taking leftover tobacco and rolling it in leaves.[9]
The commercial Indian beedi industry saw rapid growth during the 1930s
By the middle of the 20th century, beedi manufacture had grown into a highly competitive industry.[9] This stage of commercial production—at the height of the beedi's popularity[citation needed]—saw the creation of many new beedi brands[9] as well as beedi factories employing upwards of one hundred, primarily male, beedi rollers.[10]
Factory-based beedi production declined as a result of increased regulation during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s,
Beedi smoking tends to be associated with a lower social standing,[14] as these tobacco-filled leaves are inexpensive when compared to regular cigarettes.[8] Those with a high social standing who do smoke beedies often do so out of the public eye; however, the cultural trend is changing.[14]
Manufacturing
Over 3 million Indians are employed in the manufacture of beedies,
Workers roll an average of 500–1000 beedies per day, handling 225–450 grams (8–15+3⁄4 oz) of tobacco flake.[21] Handling tobacco and inhaling its dust is an occupational hazard for beedi workers as an increased level of chromosome aberrations was found in a scientific study.[21]
The production of beedies is also popular in Bangladesh. According to the 2014 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor[22] published by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the informal sector in these countries employs underage children in the production of beedies "in response to consumer preferences".[citation needed]
Tendu leaf
Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) leaves make excellent wrappers, and the success of the beedi is due, in part, to this leaf.[9] The leaves are in abundance shortly after the tobacco crop is cured and so are ready to be used in beedi manufacture.[9] Collected in the summer and made into bundles, the leaves are dried in the sun for three to six days before being used as wrappers.[3]
Global popularity
Beedies, unlike cigarettes, must be drawn frequently to keep them lit, and doing so requires effort.[3]
North America
In the United States, beedies are treated like conventional cigarettes. They are taxed at the same rates,[6] are required to have a tax stamp, and must carry the Surgeon General's warning.[6] However, a study done in San Francisco showed that about four in ten packs of beedies did not contain the required warning label and seven in ten did not carry the tax stamp.[6] 2006 statistics on tobacco usage show that 2.9% of high school students in the United States take part in tobacco smoking compared to 1.4% of those aged 18 to 24.[23] Some beedies are flavoured.[3] Both Canada[24] and the US[25] have banned flavoured cigarettes.
United Kingdom
Beedis are currently legal in the UK and are subject to the same taxation as cigarettes. One must be aged 18 or over to purchase them.[26]
Health warnings
Beedies deliver more
Frequency of ventilatory abnormalities was highest in the cigarette smokers. A lower prevalence of chronic bronchitis and abnormal ventilatory measurements in beedi smokers, as compared with cigarette smokers, was thought to be primarily due to low total consumption of tobacco. Some added influence of smoke produced by burning of the wrapper leaf and type of tobacco used in beedies could not be ruled out.[30]
See also
References
- ^ Dhar, Sujoy (18 November 2009). "Indian girls fight back against child marriage". KOLKATA, India: Reuters. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ ISBN 978-2-914365-35-2. Archived from the original(PDF) on 6 March 2012.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-562961-3.
- ^ "Bidi Leaf Tree (reported under the synonym Bauhinia racemosa)". Flowers of India.
- ^ S2CID 25619918.
- ^ PMID 11115300.
- ^ Bhargava's Standard Illustrated Dictionary of the Hindi Language. Bhushan Press. 1976. p. 312.
- ^ ISBN 978-2-914365-70-3. Archived from the original(PDF) on 26 December 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f Lal, Pranay (25 May 2009). "Bidi – A short history" (PDF). Current Science. 96 (10): 1335–1337. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8014-8415-5.
- ^ a b c d Making ends meet: Bidi workers in India today; A study of four states (PDF). Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office. 2003. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Census of India, Central Provinces and Berar. Vol. XII. 1931.
- ^ Brahmachari Sitalprasad, Jain Bauddha TatvaJnana, JainVijay Press, 1934
- ^ S2CID 5393992.
- ISBN 978-81-261-0199-3.
- S2CID 37668211.
- ^ "Estimates of Tobacco-dependent Employment in India". Economic and Political Weekly. 53 (40): 7–8. 5 June 2015.
- ^ Restoring the Balance: Women and forest resources. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, Forestry Department. 1987. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Kalra, Aditya (15 April 2016). "India's traditional cigarette makers halt production over health warnings". Reuters.
- PMID 33117771.
- ^ PMID 7885365.
- ^ "List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor". United States Department of Labor.
- ^ "2006 National Youth Tobacco Survey and Key Prevalence Indicators". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009.
- ^ Dowd, Allan (8 October 2009). "Canada bans fruit-flavored cigarettes". VANCOUVER, British Columbia: Reuters. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Heavey, Susan (22 September 2009). "U.S. FDA, in first tobacco action, bans flavors". Reuters. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ Sharrow Mills, "The Encyclopaedia of Tobacco", Wilsons of Sharrow, 2018
- PMID 15208004.
- ^ a b c "Bidis and Kreteks". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ "Bidi more harmful than cigarette: Study". DNA. Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "Chronic bronchitis in beedi smokers (preliminary communication)". www.popline.org.
External links
- Action Plan for Beedi Women Workers The International Labor OfficeBeedi