Health concerns of tea workers in India.

Abstract

Assessment of health problems of tea workers is an essential pre-requisite for formulating health care system to address health needs of this community in India. One of the great challenges to the health care system of the tea workers has been malnutrition and diseases associated with unhygienic living .Although India is trying to cope with these problems through nutritional improvement, improvement in health infrastructures including eradication, elimination and control of major communicable diseases, the impact of these health-benefits on poor socio-economic groups are still the major concern. Health needs are also changing in tea plantation and tea factory workers of India. This epidemiological transitions will pose health challenge for the tea industry in future. Medical awareness, supplementation of food with nutrients and training of workers for safe work practices are important for reducing disease burden in tea planters and workers.