At the Bidi and Public Health Media Conference, where these two women narrated their experiences, unveiled many truths about the bidi manufacturing industry and consumption.

Bidis outsell cigarettes by a ratio of 8:1 in India. “A popular myth prevails that bidis are not as harmful as cigarettes, but it is hardly true,” said Prof. M Siddiqi, Honorary Chairman, Cancer Foundation of India, Kolkata and one of the speakers in the conference. Bidis releases more carbon monoxide, tar and nicotine than cigarettes and can thus be much more harmful and make its users more vulnerable to terminal diseases, like cancer.

The hazard lies not only for the users, but also for the makers. More than 8 million people are employed in the bidi manufacturing industry. In Murshidabad, for rolling a 1000 bidis, one is paid only about Rs.30-37. Says Rukiya Bewa, “I have admitted my children to school, but I have no money to admit them into high school.” Mastura adds, “We have lands, but no money to even build a house.” In fact the economic situation of people around the area is so pitiable, that even children are absorbed into bidi rolling, in a bid to earn some extra money.

Besides financial problems, these workers are often afflicted with various diseases. Bidi rollers suffer from asthma, anaemia, tuberculosis, giddiness, postural and eye problems, and gynaecological diseases. Even when bidis are stored in houses, people may experience nausea and headache.

Speakers in the conference expressed disappointment that the law, of posting visual health warnings on bidi packs to warn its largely illiterate or semi- literate consumers has been passed in 2003 but has still not been implemented.