Comprehensive labour welfare scheme in South Indian plantations.

Abstract

The United Planters' Association of Southern India was founded in 1893 as the central organization of the producers of plantation crops. In 1971 it initiated the Comprehensive Labor Welfare Scheme to benefit workers. Surveys revealed that the high birth rates prevalent in this region among plantation workers were caused by fear of the side effects of contraceptives which might endanger the workers' health. It was decided that for effective acceptance of a small family the concepts of total health care and higher living standards of the family had to be emphasized. The Comprehensive Labor Welfare Scheme made efforts at community health improvement and initiated measures to provide better sanitation, water supply, housing, and medical care. But the response to these efforts was incomplete due to: 1) low level of health consciousness, 2) ineffective communication, and 3) lack of multipronged efforts for a sustained program. To provide greater communication, the concept of "link workers" was introduced to provide a link between the people and the medical authorities. This program has been in operation for 3 1/2 years with best results in the following areas: 1) sanitation, 2) better utilization of antenatal, postnatal and child care services, and 3) better information on births, deaths, marriages, contraception, and morbidity. The total health care approach is the only effective program in raising the quality of life in closed communities like plantations and the workers as consumers have to be motivated and educated as well.