Introduction

Salt is an important physiological necessity of life. With an enormous and growing population, the demand for salt is of vital importance. Actually there was a salt famine in certain parts of India during the Second World War. Salt is used for several purposes. It is used for cooking as table salt and as a preservative in the preparation of condiments, pickles and food stuffs. It is also used to a limited extent in agriculture as an insecticide, wood killer and for stock feeding. It finds use in curing fish, meat packing, dairying and other industries to prevent deterioration. It is used in several industries such as glass, leather, soap, oil purification, dyestuffs, textiles, ceramics, refrigeration etc. its largest use in the manufacture of sodium components viz. Soda ash, caustic soda, sodium sulphate etc. Today, the heart of salt-making in Tamil Nadu, an estimated 65,000 men and women are employed in salt production. They toil under inhuman conditions to create ingredient that converts a tasteless lump of calories into consumable tasty food.

Living and Working Conditions of Saltpan Workers

The Salt Cess Act does not provide for the terms or protection or the service conditions of the salt workers. The saltpan workers suffer enormously from the saline environment in which they live and work in on the Tuticorin District. Many of the villages have no fresh water due to salt contamination of the local water table. They get occupational illnesses and disabilities such as sight impairment and blindness caused by the reflected glare of the sun off the salt crystals. They develop skin ulcers which are very painful and do not heal up quickly. They also suffer from stomach problems. Their life expectancy is quite low and infant mortality is high. Their wages are low. The saltpans open for only about eight months of the year. So in the process of making two ends meet the seasonal workers invariably fall into the hands of the local money lenders who generally charge interest at the rate of 10 per cent per month.

The Aghariya who depends exclusively on salt processing live in very poor conditions. There is a lack of basic amenities like drinking water, shelter, education and facilities like gumboots, sunglasses, tools and health care. Each worker has to pay for the water at the end of the year. Children are brought up on salty land with no activities for growth. The seasonal workers live on the pan itself. Most of them erect huts. They face health hazards like blisters, burns, cuts, eye burning, falling hair, headaches and many other ailments. Lower legs and feet develop lesions like ulcers and wart.

Skin problems occur like scaling, atrophic scars keratodermia, callosities, and fissures. This facilitates enhanced absorption of salt into body, which could be one of the causes of high blood pressure. They also have to drink saline water most of the time. The incidence of Vitamin – A deficiency, night blindness, tuberculosis, infant mortality and gynecological problems are common.

Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to know the socio – economic conditions of saltpan workers in Tuticorin District of Tamil Nadu. The primary objectives of the study are:

1. To investigate the nature and extent of employment in salt industry in the Tuticorin District.

2. To find out the relationship between income and expenditure of the salt industry workers.

Sources of Data

The data and information for the purpose of the study have been collected through primary and secondary sources. The primary data has been collected by administering structural questionnaires. Data collected from 100 saltpan workers, in these respondents 50 were male and 50 were female workers in Tuticorin District. Secondary data collected from Government records and reports.

Statistical tools used

Frequency table were used to understand the socio – economic conditions of salt worker are measured with three dimensions like occupational category, educational attainments of the respondents and community depends of salt workers in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu. Regression model use for estimate to relationship between monthly income and expenditure of the respondents from salt industry in Tuticorin district.

Table – 1 showed that the occupational pattern and educational status of the saltpan workers in Tuticorin district. Nearly 35 per cent workers are engaged with both loading and field work in salt industry. Majority of women workers are engaged in loading salt in working field. This study also analyse of level of education in the saltpan workers. There were just a small proportion of 8 per cent workers are completed primary level of education. Salt workers nearby 50 per cent of the respondents are illiterate and 43 per cent of the respondents complete their secondary level education. There was not even a single worker in this area had passed higher secondary or higher education.

Caste has been an important determiner of the process of social stratification in our country. Traditionally, caste and class have been associated with the occupations of the people. This study finds that almost all 99 per cent of salt workers from the other than higher casters. As large as 55 per cent of salt workers were of scheduled casters, 5 per cent of most backward casters and 39 per cent were backward caster and just one per cent for higher caste. The salt workers from scheduled castes and backward caste are major chunk of labour force in salt industry of Tamil Nadu.

First, let us interpret this regression. As expected, there is a positive relationship between household monthly expenditure and household monthly income of the salt workers. If total income went up by a rupee, on average expenditure increased by about 0.63 paise. If total income were zero, the average monthly expenditure would be about Rs.1421. Of course, this mechanical interpretation of the intercept may not make much economic sense. The r² value of about 0.568 means that 56.8 per cent of the variation in expenditure is explained by total income.

Major Findings

The present study has brought out detailed investigation into saltpan workers in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu. The study revealed that hundred percent of the respondents received their wages on a weekly basis. The proportions of families owing more than Rs. 40000 was 40 per cent while 22 per cent of workers in salt industry under debt less than Rs.10000.

Transportation of salt workers villages were at 79 per cent salt workers living village connect to bus service in urban area whereas rest of them salt workers village are not get bus service in their village . They are from isolated area those people are using transport in cycle and bullock carts. It was found that 62 per cent of the respondents were not aware to Self Help Groups this workers are non member in SHGs. 39 per cent of the respondents get loan from SHGs. Salt Workers are 33 per cent of the respondent member in Tamil Nadu Manual Workers Social Security and Welfare Scheme. Under this schemes members are only 6 per cent of the workers are got education and marriage assistance for their son/daughter.

The residential facilities of the salt workers in living village are very poor both qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The space – availability in the houses meant for their living in extremely inadequate. The available space was used for all purposes like store, bedroom and sometimes even for kitchen, especially in the rainy season. These workers are exposed to health hazards like dampness, mosquitoes and at times even snakes. During heavy rains the quarters get submerged in water as they are made usually in low-lying plane areas. Most of the diseases of the salt industry workers appeared to be related to the environmental and living factors of these workers and therefore these diseases can possibly be presented by improving their living and working conditions.

Recommendations of this Study

1. These are a number of labour legislations enacted in independent India to regularize and regulate the employment procedures, wage rates, payment of wages as well as to provide various facilities such as accommodation, drinking water, medical assistance, canteen, leaves, holidays, compensation, etc. for the workers in unorganized sector as well as the organized sector. But unfortunately these acts have not unorganized sector, making the life of its workers extremely sub-human.

2. The wages provided to the salt workers must be raised at ` 450 for per day.

3. The state government should also make provisions to compensate these workers against natural disasters like heavy rains, floods, cyclone and fires, etc.

4. Job security must be provided to the workers of the salt industry for efficient working, hence there is no job security for the workers in Tuticorin district.

5. Holidays must be provided to the workers without the loss of pay in case of sickness and any important personal work.

6. Most of the workers are residing far away from the salt industry. Hence transport fare must be provided by the saltpan owner.

7. Voluntary organizations (NGOs) and trade unions can work towards making improvements in their health status, educational attainments and general welfare. Following areas particularly can be intervened by these groups:

8. Government should constitute a committee every year at the state level to decide about the rate of wages, bonus and incentives for these workers. Efforts should also be made by the enforcement machinery to effectively implement the recommendations of this committee.

Conclusions and Policy Implications

Salt industry is labour intensive sector in Tamil Nadu. It provides employment for the coastal rural area people. However, the working conditions of the salt worker in this are not by far. This is caused by the wage is not equal to the working hours. The job security is paramount important motivational measure but in this area there is no job security to the salt workers. It should be taken into account by the labour welfare department. Other welfare measures are also not sufficient to the workers expectation. Therefore the conditions of the salt worker in the Tamil Nadu were poor. It is high time for the government to address the grievances o the salt workers in the Tamil Nadu which will in turn help them to elevate themselves from the present dismal state of affairs.

References

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10. Perumal, VMS 2004, ‘Working Conditions of Salt Workers in Tamil Nadu: A Study’, Southern Economist, Vol. 52, No. 04.

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