Emerging issues in Child Health related to Occupational and Environmental Exposure

2. Gempolishing Industry Jaipur, Rajshtan
2.1. Gem polishing industry is located mainly in Jaipur, the capital of Rajsthan where there are 60,000 persons are employed in this industry. Out of total workforce nearly 20 % (13,000) are children. The process gem making is labour intensive. Normally in the gem industry, the child labour is being used for making of precious gems, polishing of gems and giving them a shape. The child labour is used only for polishingthe precious stone by oxides (usually by Chromic Oxide). Due to this there is no chance of damage to the final product. 

2.2. Occupational Health Problems: The children engaged in this industry complain of bodyache, pain in knee and shoulder joints. This can be due to long working hours, continuous sitting in one particular posture, improper working posture, lack of space, improper tools, improper way of carrying out the work and lack of training. Many of the children complain frequent injuries, fissures and cracks of their hands and fingers, especially tip of the finger. Due to very precise and minute job, frequent complains of eyestrain can’t be ruled out. This can be further aggravated by low illumination and vitamin A deficiency. There is a exposure of chromic oxide and other oxides being used for shining the gems. This list of the industries where children are employed is very long and it is not possible to cover all the occupations.. However, it can be said that in almost of the sectors of urban economy children are employed. Many of the occupations listed above are hazardous in nature and not suitable to these children .As such many of them are detrimental to the physical and mental health of the children. So there is a serious concerns of the Govt. and society about those children who are working in such hazardous occupations. 

"In these industries children and their parents are usually from socially deprived class of people. They are not aware about short and long term consequence due to exposure various physical, chemical and ergonomic hazard. The information generated will be focused towards such problems. Such information will be communicated to children, their parents, employers, government officers, medical & paramedical personnel and social workers by organizing workshops, exhibition and conducting training programmre. Video films"

3.1. The art of carpet making has spread from Kashmir to the Southern tipof India. It is not possible to give exact statistics of workers working in this particular industries. as most of the looms are in small shades employing less than 20 children/workers. These are not registered under shops and establishment act or factory act and technically there are no rules and laws are being applied. But by nearby guess, out of total workers 80%, 15%, 5% are in Uttar Pradesh (96,000 children out if 2,40,000 total employees) Rajasthan (12,000 children out of total 30,000 employees) Jammu & Kashmir(6,000 out of 15,000 employees) respectively. Out of total production in India,95% is exported Weavers are mostly muslims or belongs to Scheduled Castes such as Khatik, Koli, Raigar, Chamar, etc. Seventy percent of the children are boys between the age of 6-14 years, working from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm with an hour break for lunch. They are paid very low wages. Children having looms in the own houses are working or more than 12 hoursper day. 

3.2. Occupational Health Problems: To Children Working In Carpet Weaving: Occupational Health Problems To Children Involved in Hand Made Carpet : Children are subjected to skeletal deformities, ergonomic problems, eye sight problems and health problems due to exposure to toxic chemicals: Skeletal deformities : The squatting position that the child must occupy on the old type of loom causes very serious occupational health problems. If a worker is employed from a young age ,the legs may become deformed (genu valgum)or serious crippling arthritis of the knee may develop. The deformation on the pelvis often in a restricted form, some times occur. The constant tying of knots and the threading of the weft yarn through the warp may result in swollen finger joints ,arthritis, neuralgia, causing permanent deformities of the fingers. Eye sight disorders : The constant close attention that the weaver must give to the point of weaving or knotting may cause considerable eye strain particularly if the lightning is inadequate. Problem is worsened when there is with vitamin A deficiency.

Mental Health Problems: The very fine work requiring a high degree of skill and constant attention leads in some cases to nervous illness manifesting itself in hand trembling and some times mental troubles.

4. Slate -stone mines and industry

4.1. The slate stone mines are hard stone mines located in the Markapur, northern part of Andhra Pradesh. These mines are open, wide and deep. The stones are mined from these areas and taken to the nearby villages in small pieces. These small pieces are again reshaped in various rectangle sizes of slates.

4.2. Occupational Health Problems: In the above-mentioned industry, children are exposed almost to each and every process i.e. from mining of the stone to the final touch of the slate. In mining they are likely to get minor and major accident injuries resulting in high mortality and morbidity. Where the stones are cut in various shapes and sizes the children are exposed to dust, which can cause not only respiratory health problems but also serious disease like silicosis. While coloring the slate either black or red children are also exposed to the unknown chemicals. Similarly, while making the wooden frame children might get minor and major injuries. They are also involved in the fixing of slate with wooden frame where there are chances of minor injuries to the hands and tip of the finger. 

NATIONAL STATISTICS 

Interpolation of census figures by the National Labour Institute indicates that out of 203 million children between the ages of 5 and 14, 116 million are in school, 12.6 millionaire in full-time employment, and the status of 74 million is unknown. Most, if not all, of the 87 million children, not in school, do housework, work on family farms, work alongside their parents as paid agricultural labourers, work as domestic servants, or are otherwise employed. (US Dept of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999,25 February 2000)