Premium
The wages to roll bidis are low — Rs 150 for 1,000 bidis, which even the best don’t manage in a day
For 22-year-old Heera Khatun, rolling bidis is like a religion.
The income from the small, thin stick of tobacco wrapped in kendu leaves helped fund her college education — at least, until she was married off and dropped out. Notwithstanding the meagre earnings, she is now looking forward to making a future with her husband on the back of her skill to roll bidis.
Heera’s father was a small-time tailor who did not have the talent to make anything from scratch. Mending and repairing were more his forte. But it translated into little income.
“The family was always in need; whatever
First Published: May 05 2024 | 11:05 PM IST
