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WELFARE AND SAFETY INDICATORS FOR WOMEN WASTE PICKERS IN RAJAPALYAM MUNICIPALITY
Authors: Dr.K.M.Ashifa , Ms.M.Sharmila Devi
Number of views: 494
In India substantial people working in unorganized sectors as unorganized workers; transitional
nature of the Indian economy, disparity in education, skill and training are some of the major
factors abetting such a large concentration of workers in an area most vulnerable to exogenous
economic vicissitudes. Women working in the unorganized sector deserve a separate mention as
they are much marginalized (Khan, 2013). The present study is focused on women workers in
unorganized sector especially the waste picking workers of Rajapalayam municipality. They are
working in unprotected are in grave danger of contacting countless diseases through their daily
and close contact with human waste. Some of these diseases, in addition to TB, include:
campylobacter infection, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and hand, and foot and mouth disease,
hepatitis. According to Factories Act 1948 under section 21 to 50, the organization has to
provide welfare and safety measures to protect its workers. The study tried to analyses the
implementation of these welfare and safety measures among women pickers in study area. And it
found that level of implementation of these measures is relatively poor. The study suggested to
conduct weekly health check -up, recreation activities, counselling services, motivation trainings
and awareness campaigns. Government intervention with the support of non- profit organization
is to be very essential improve the quality of work life of women in unorganized sector,
evidenced by the present study.