Physiological study on occupational health problems of tribal workers engaged in sal leaf plate and cup making industries in west bengal india

Abstract

According to the 2011 census, India has the biggest population of ethnic people, numbered newlinearound 104.2 million, or 8.6 percent (%) of the total population. The fact is that, tribal people newlineinhabit in hilly, remote and forest adjacent locations and these are their key features. newlineDifferent forest products and agriculture are the main sources of their livelihood. Since ages newlineforests and people have emerged in a great symbiosis. A major portion of tribal is inhabitant newlinenear forest areas as their entire life revolves around the forest. Mainly rural people are newlinedependent on forest resources for their livelihood. They are the collectors of forest products newlinelike fuel wood, fodder and small timber, Sal leaves, Kendu leaves, sabai grass, mahua seeds, newlineand flower, bahara, amlaki, haritaki, gum, honey, flowers, leave etc. and by selling these they newlineearn some money. Their dietary consumption is influenced by the vagaries of nature, with newlinesignificant seasonal changes, depending on the availability of agricultural and forestry-based newlineproducts. The majority of tribal people suffered from malnutrition. In West Bengal, Sal leaf newlineplates are an important source of income for forest dwellers. Making Sal leaf plates is one of newlinethe common occupations of tribal women in West Bengal. When they go to collect the green newlineSal leaves the forest in the morning, they need to complete the household chores and then go newlineto their work. They go to the nearby forest to collect the green Sal leaves. The leaves are newlinetransformed into plates and cups by the women through the stitching. The stitched plates are newlinedried under the Sunlight. The dried plates are packaged in bundles of usually 100 pieces. Sal newlineleaf plates are made by tribal women for approximately four to six hours each day. They newlinemaintain the same working posture for 2-3 hours straight at a stretch. They also carry out newlineother housework in addition to this.