Current trends in girl child labour: A case study of home-based beedi workers of Malda & Murshidabad Districts of West Bengal, India

Though the Indian Constitution in its article 24 prohibits the employment of children below 14 years of age, child labour is a reality of our times. The two adjoining districts of West Bengal, Malda & Murshidabad houses a large number of beedi workers, which is male subjugated but outnumbered by their female counterpart, can be found rolling beedis all through the day. The whole economy of this area is considerably influenced by this profession. Data were collected by using a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. Though unconstitutional and unaccounted for, a large number of girl child workers are engaged to add into the earnings of the family, which is plagued with different types of atrocities like rejection of beedis, reduced wages etc. They are also severely exposed to health hazards. This study was primarily concerned with the analysis of working and living conditions of girl child workers in the beedi industry in particular.