Gynaecological,NeurologicalandNeonatalhealthhazardsevidencedinfemalebidiworkersofUrban slums : Need to institute legislation, strategies and programs

Abstract

Bidi rolling industry employs 90% of female workers of low socioeconomic status out of 4.9 million workers in India. The present study aims at first evidence synthesis of occupational health hazards of young teenage girls and women labourers involved in five urban slums of Jalandhar district of Punjab. High prevalence of gynaecological, neonatal and neurological disorders have been reported among these home workers of unrecognised sectors during a study period of one and a half year. Sample size was of 125 female predominantly with age groups of 10-20 years (mostly unmarried girls) and 20-30 years (married female with new born babies). Snow balling sampling was used to identify bidi rollers. Databases were developed in Census and Survey Processing System (CSPro) and Microsoft Excel. Most common morbidity were menstrual irregularities and prolonged fatigue followed by gestational hypertension. Neonatal Bronchitis and tanning of skin, still births and births with low weight babies are a matter of high risk for future generation. Neurological symptoms including numbness of fingers and vertigo in age-group of 40-50 years wreak havoc on long term exposure to cheap form of tobacco. Need of social security, shifting of bidi manufacturers to far off places from home, awareness to alternative skill development programmes, strict implementation and amendment of child labour laws, employment opportunity through entrepreneural development programmes, security benifits, Rashtriya Swathya Bima Yojanas have been recommended to secure sustainable development of girl children and women labourers of our future generations.