Quantifying and Contextualising Vulnerabilities: A Mixed-Methods Study of Beedi Rollers in India’s Informal Economy

The beedi industry forms a significant segment of India’s informal economy, providing work to millions, most of them women and children from disadvantaged groups, who endure harsh and uncertain conditions. Among the leading centres of this industry is Murshidabad district in West Bengal, yet little is known about the intertwined socio-economic, health, and systemic challenges of its workforce. This study explores the multidimensional vulnerabilities of beedi workers by combining quantitative prioritisation of challenges with qualitative insights into their lived realities. A mixed-methods concurrent design was adopted involving 245 beedi workers from seven blocks in Murshidabad. Quantitative data were collected using a 7-point Likert questionnaire, prioritised using Garrett’s ranking technique. Qualitative data were derived from in-depth interviews and group discussions, thematically analysed to capture workers’ perceptions and coping strategies. Health issues emerged as the top concern (mean Garrett score: 63.24), followed by insufficient income (55.55) and long working hours (53.87), with substandard social status ranking lowest (38.31). Qualitative narratives uncovered deep-rooted issues such as exploitation by middlemen, social marginalisation, gender-specific burdens, the persistence of child labour, and the many hurdles workers face in accessing welfare schemes, all of which exacerbate cycles of poverty and illness. By integrating worker voices with structured ranking, this research informs evidence-based policies to improve livelihoods in India’s unorganised beedi sector. To truly protect the health, dignity, and livelihoods of these workers, there is an urgent need for targeted policy measures, stronger enforcement of labour rights, and welfare programmes tailored to local realities.