<p>Although the beedi industry provides employment opportunities for women from low-income families, the informal nature of production adversely affects their earnings. Many women lack access to social security benefits and are often exploited by industrialists or middlemen, as they are not officially recognised as beedi workers. These women also face numerous health issues. Due to a lack of reliable public data, the beedi industry in general, and women beedi workers in particular, are poorly understood. This paper investigates why women continue to roll beedis despite earning low incomes and facing health risks, as well as the obstacles they encounter when trying to change jobs, based on data from 496 current and former workers. The study concludes that beedi rolling offers only a limited livelihood. It recommends targeted economic initiatives and skill development, along with coordinated efforts from governments, banks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and development agencies, to expand livelihood options and reduce reliance on beedi work.</p>