Medak, Telangana: When NDTV visited the primary school at Pulichedu village in Medak district of Telangana, Navya was writing her Maths exam. But there was apparently a lot more on her mind than just numbers. She had come to school on an empty stomach, because her mother, who earns a living rolling beedis, had not got any work for a week. And only today got work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA). Teachers say the 10-year-old is very bright and are as worried as Navya herself that she may have to drop out soon.
Navya's father, an indebted farmer, killed himself three years ago. Ever since, her mother, Jyothi has rolled beedis to support her two children, 10-year-old Navya and eight-year-old Rakesh. For the last one week, the contractor has not given any fresh raw material to make beedis and there has been no income.
"He said it won't be possible to give the tendu leaves and tobacco if the company is not able to sell and continue to function," Jyothi told NDTV.
"We live only on beedis. When I am unable to earn and feed them, I will be forced to send Navya to work too, may be as labour. I want to send them to school. But I can do that only when I can earn."
Navya is teary eyed, to see her mother struggle so hard and also worried she may have to stop going to school.
"My mother shouldn't struggle. Daily she makes beedis till late in the night and works really hard," the child says.
Jyothi explains that even though Rakesh is too young to understand how she struggles to cope, Navya is understanding. He will ask for 'chai' but she will never ask even for new clothes during sankranti or dasara, when everyone is wearing new clothes. "My daughter deserves better," the mother says, breaking down.
In a state where agricultural distress has pushed many families into financial crisis, an estimated five lakh families survive because the women roll beedis. Back-breaking work for upto 10 hours a day, to make 1000 beedis, fetches them upto Rs 120.
Narsamma explains that all the women end up with terrible back-ache, limb ache and poor eyesight because of hours of sitting stiff and straight. Many suffer respiratory problems too, due to the tobacco powder and dust. But they are still grateful, it earns them a livelihood.
But now contractors have told them a big pictorial warning on beedi packets will discourage sales and push the industry into crisis. And they will lose their livelihood.
"May be people won't buy beedis if they see the picture of the skull. They may think they will become like that. What should we do then," worries Mangamma in Kishtapuram village.
Balanna, who's puffing a beedi as he digs by the roadside, has been smoking for years now, doesn't think so. "Even now there is a warning saying your lungs will get spoilt and we will die, but we continue to smoke, don't we?"
The women say it is liquor rather than tobacco that is spoiling their life. Beedis are giving them a livelihood. Balamani for instance has three small children and an alcoholic husband. She rolls 500 beedis a day and earns Rs 60. She is thin and malnourished but says at least her children don't go hungry because she rolls beedis.