HEALTH AND SERICULTURE A SOCIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL ANALYSIS

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Title: HEALTH AND SERICULTURE A SOCIOLOGICAL AND MEDICAL ANALYSIS
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Health and Sericulture
A Sociological And Medical Analysis
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Anand Inbanathan
Om Prakash
D.V.Gopalappa
H.Y.Gowramma
D. Tharamathi
Shobha M.V

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Sponsored by
Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation

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Institute for Social and Economic Change,
Nagarbhavi, Bangalore-'560 072.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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This project, "Health and Sericulture: A Sociological and Medical Analysis,"
was sponsored and financially supported by the Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation, and we extend our appreciation to SDC for
their support, as well as co-operation during the project. The support of the
Director of ISEC, Dr. P.V. Shenoi, and the Head of the Sociology Unit,
Professor G.K. Karanth, are also greatly appreciated. The co-operation of
the Registrar, and members of ISEC administration, including the Accounts
Office, was also instrumental in the project proceeding on course. At various
times, we had to look to the Department of Sericulture, Government of
Karnataka, for support in carrying out certain parts of the study. To the
Department officials, who were most co-operative and helpful, we extend
our thanks.

We had the benefit of suggestions and ideas from Dr. Simon Charsley
(University of Glasgow) who was adviser to the study, as well as the
suggestions of Dr. V. Vijayalakshmi, Ms. B.P. Vani, and Dr. Subba Krishna
(Professor of Bio-Statistics, NIMHANS). Ms. Suma Rao, Mr. Umapathi T. S.,
and Mr. Srinivas Sridhar had worked as researchers on this project, and their
contributions were also crucial to the overall research effort. To all the
above persons, both those named, and those whose names we could not
mention here, which includes our many respondents, we extend our thanks
and appreciation, in supporting our research in whatever manner that they

could.

Anand Inbanathan

December 1 998

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CONTENTS

Page No.

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Summary and Recommendations

01

Introduction

10

II

Profile of the Respondents

22

III

Economic conditions of Reeling and Grainage workers

39

IV

a) Reeling and grainage activities, and health

62

b) Clinical

97

LIST OF TABLES

Title

Table No.
Table

2

Distribution of Respondents by Technology (Sidlaghatta)
Age When Joined Reeling/Grainage Activity (Sidlaghatta)

Table

3

Age when joined Reeling/Grainage Activity (Sidlaghatta)

24

Table

4
4 a

Family Size (Sidlaghatta)

Table
Table

5

Family Size (Hosahalli)
Respondents and Religion/Caste (Sidlaghatta)

Table

5a

Distribution by caste/religion (Hosahalli)

Table

6

Respondents and occupational status (Sidlaghatta)

Table

6a

Table

7

Respondents and Occupational Status (Hosahalli)
Education and Caste/Religion of the Respondents (Sidlaghatta)

25
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26
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27
27

Table

7a

Education and Caste/Religion of the Respondents (Hosahalli)

Table

8

Gender and Educational Level (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Table
Table

9
9a
10

Education and Occupational Status (Sidlaghatta)

Table

Table
Table
Table

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Education and Occupational Status (Hosahalli)
Parents working in Reeling/Grainage
Reasons for opting to work in reeling/grainage, across caste/religion

Gender-wise Reasons for Taking up reeling/grainage work (Sidlaghatta)
Hours of work per day

Table

13
14

Table

15

Reasons for stopping work

Table

C

Page No.

Number of days worked in a year

Table

16

Gender and reasons for stopping work

Table

17

Caste and ownership of Land (Sidlaghatta)

Table

17a

Table

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Land Ownership (Hosahalli)
House ownership across caste/religion

Table

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Type of House

Table

20

Other assets across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Table

21

Other assets across income (Sidlaghatta)

Table

22

Other assets across occupation

Table

23

Advance taken among reeling labourers of different castes and religion

Table

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Reason for taking advance by reeling labourers

Table 25
Table 26

Source from which loan is taken
Nature of savings across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Table

26a

Nature of savings across caste/religion (Hosahalli)

Table

27

Nature of savings and gender (Sidlaghatta)

Table

27a

Table 28
Table 29

Nature of savings and gender (Hosahalli)

Ownership and Savings (Sidlaghatta)
Number of members working in a family(Sidlaghatta)

Table

29a

Number of members working in a family (Hosahalli)

Table

30

Working members in a family across different castes (Sidlaghatta)

22

23

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Table

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Working members in a family across different caste (Hosahalli)

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Table

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Income level across ownership and number of family members working.

Table

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Reeling Technology and Income Group

Table

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Distribution of respondents across various income groups (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Distribution of respondents across various income groups (Hosahalli)

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Table

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Gender and distribution of respondents’ family incomes (Sidlaghatta)

Gender-wise distribution of respondents’ family incomes (Hosahalli)

Table

34a

Table

35

Income and Employment Status (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Weekly Household Expenditure (Sidlaghatta).

Table

36a

Table

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Weekly Household Expenditure (Hosahalli)
Frequency of food intake across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Table

37a

Frequency of food intake across caste/religion (Hosahalli)

Table

38

Gender, and number of daily meals (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Table
Table

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Health status and technology

Table

41

Table

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Family size and health status
Health Status across different caste/religion groups (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Health Status across different caste/religion groups (Hosahalli)

Table

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Gender and Health Status (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Table

44

Education and Health Status (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Table

45

Occupation and health status (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Occupation and health status (Hosahalli)

Table

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Health Status across different age groups of Reeling and

Health status and reeling technology

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Grainage respondents

Table 47
Table 48

Health status across Age Groups (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Duration of job and health status of Sidlaghatta and

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Hosahalli Respondents

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Table

49

Number of days worked in a year and health status

74

Table

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Joining age and health status of respondents

75

Table

51

76

Table

52

House type (economic condition) and health status
Health Status and alcohol consumption/smoking (Sidlaghatta)

Table

52a

Health Status and alcohol consumption/smoking (Hosahalli)

Table

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Prevalence of diseases and gender (Sidlaghatta)*

79

Table

53a

79

Table

54

Prevalence of diseases and gender (Hosahalli)
Workers’ reason for diseases across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Table

54a

Workers’ reason for diseases across caste/religion (Hosahalli)

81

Table

55

Respondent’s reasons for disease (Sidlaghatta)

81

Table

55a

Respondent’s reasons for disease (Hosahalli)

77

80

Table

56

Using of folk remedies and health status

82
85

Table

57

Types of medicines used

86

Table

58

Number of visits to doctor in the past year

86

Table

59

Frequency of meals

87

Table

60

Types of medicines used by respondehts (Sidlaghatta)

87

Table

60a

Types of medicines used by respondents (Hosahalli)

88

Table

61

Respondents’ use of folk remedies (Sidlaghatta)

Table

62

Respondents’ use of folk remedies (Sidlaghatta)

Table

63

Types of medicines used by respondents (Sidlaghatta)

Table

63a

Types of medicines used by respondents (Hosahalli)

Table

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Use of medicines by men and women (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Use of medicines by men and women (Hosahalli)

Table

65

Prevalence of Self Medication across Caste/Religion (Sidlaghatta)

Table

65a

Prevalence of self medication across caste/religion (Hosahalli)

Table

66

Self medication and gender (Sidlaghatta)

Table

66a

Table

67

Gender-wise Self Medication (Hosahalli)
Number of visits to doctor, across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Number of visits to doctor, across caste/Religion (Hosahalli)

Table

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Respondents’ visits to doctors (Sidlaghatta)

Table

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Respondents’ visits to doctors (Hosahalli)

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95

Charts:
1

Health status of Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli respondents

2

Health status of reeling and grainage respondents.

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Sumnuvaf

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1. With 247C neeling undo and about 9CC0 penoano dinecity employed in
them, Sidlaghatta io one of the langeot neeling centneo in SLannataha. St io
atoa a pnaducen of oupenian quality oilh yann, a fact which enouneo that
undo pnoducing ouch yann one active thnoughout the yean.
2. She p neo ent otudg ouxueged neeling and gnainage uu^Aen6 —mM a
ptvtpaowe oampte of 250. Shio oampte included 125 men and 125 uwnen.
CL tangen, numhen, of, neopondento wene included fnom the Scheduled Caoteo,
and Muotimo, both gnaupo being nepneoented in ouhotantial numheno in the
neeling oectan, of oenicultune. Cut of thio oampte of 250, the majonity wene
fnom neeling undo, including awneno and tahauneno, fan, a total of 233. Cf
the ncmaining 17 neopondento, 16 wene fnom a gouennment gnainage, and
one woo an £SS awnen. Sa guand againot neocanchen biao, ao welt 06
highlight uaniauo factano Uwolved in the otudg, a contnol gnaup UiO6
inconponated, with a oampte of 86 fnom a non-oenicultune uillage.
3. Steeling and uuaihing in gnainageo utene the tufa actinitieo which have
ouhotantial health pwhlemo, well documented even in eantiex otudieo. She
p neo ent otudg, thenefate, woo meant ta ga beyond juot deoedhing the health
pnohlemo, but ta ouggeot poooifde remedial meaouneo ta neduce the health
pnablemo.

4.
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Cn the baoio of oevenal indiceo, the majanitg of neeling and gnainage
wonheno one paontg endowed with what mag be conoidened ao the baoio
neceooitieo of life: pnopen and adequate nutnition, neaoonablg comfantahle
living opace, and athen neceooitieo ouch ao education. With no continuouo
emptogment fan moot of theoe wonheno, thein wageo (daily wageo fan moot
of them) pnavided fan only a veny madeot life otyle. Widen thein p neo ent
cincumotanceo, thein occupational appantunitieo too wene oevenely limited.
Slelativcly tange familieo, panticulanly among the Muotim neopondento,
cxacenhated the economic pnahlemo.

5. With thebe Laue income and aooaciated situation a/ life, the reefing, uw^he^6>
health io atoa at doh fnem time ta time, and 51.1 pvc cent a/ the 6ample
have had uadauo dioo^tdexo dialing, the paot one geafu Jheoe diovtdeM,
acceding, ta the *ieopandento themoctueo, include cfvtanic p^uMemo ouch ao

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v puv ‘vfnrm pyiamv tn p^pdffv aw epun fturpm tn iunpwm ot^rwyv^j’
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pru op oojv puv ‘ptary ywm ^ay? ootno ‘tpjvpj o(uouwtn pxrjjv ypag ppyj
puv fbuvu^ntd ‘vkvoh jirkorro? t/roQ pn ‘fmp oyoytn pp y&nopp onupuoo
vppobvj ypym ‘(o^oyo opeoiuop -rt) oouwy tapp wjjv fiuryoo) tn o?jv ptg
(e^vunm6l6urp^ tn frjuo jou ytwm fhyc; n ‘oppmptv ofmuprvh puv fiurpm
tn tarrfi poym ay? tano ppuoiu )wmo? t^oj yvom tmuo^ ’t :o) prprprk
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•cjkaywm 'd^vinvtS ^nwiuv
vunjyvk d tflprry fo wuzppnn ay? 'btnptafark urrrmp
uvo etwi enpnwj
zpurfop aw^ay prfr^nm?
n? prru pjrwtn 3)diuv? ta&kv) p ^bvurmB ay? tn
fnnywtn jo pnrj ay? v? prprpn frjjvenm 6tmg w pm^euoo og ^ppppoumn
pnt ppwy? onfl ‘vomnw)^ -eunrjytrkd tpjmy pvy/wvy (^gg)
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ppp erprppw (jvpp) taumo j)S7 P1^ Vkppwtn ^fnnnmb jo o)diuv? taiQ ()

un/Q vo tpnv ourdjgmd fnrnrjjmiap ^jrj qqvj ay? a? /acojnai^ayn; tzninpon

ICJjum {avtva a/ health piahtenu can be identified in the reeling, units and
g.ninngPA ■ those puun an ahjectiueh/. ahscaied outside source—such as the
uiafihiny- enwionment, Le, in neeling. units and g^taina^es. Uhe second is a
self-inflicted sowice, such as smehing. beedis and ci^wieltes, and the
consumption of alcohoL She foist is cleanly, inootoed in the asthma which
same neeliny and ynainaye wonhens suffen. fnom, aften wenhiny in these
units fan a few yeans (occupational asthma). 3t is not easy to implicate
the second in each of the cases of health pnoblems amony neeliny and
ynainaye wonhens. Sloweoen, it is known in medical science that tohacco
smokiny and alcohol abuse aduensely. affect the health of indiuiduals in
many ways. St should also, be noted that women too wane consumers of
alcohol, thouyh in a smalten numben than men. We also- absenued that a
few women consumed alcohol even when they wene pneynant, with
unknown effects on themselves and the fetus.

11. dhout thxee quariexs of the reeling, lahowtexs rioted that, in theix opinion,
the atnahe fxom boiling cocoons caused the majax health problems—
paxticulaxly, nespixatoxy ptohlemo. Even fxom a clinical paint of uieut, the
lahauxexs axe faixly close in theix assessment
steam with the allexgens is
inhaled by wexhexs, which causes allexgic reactions in many pexsans,
resulting in xespixatoxy pxoblems, including asthma.
12. 5-xom the paint of uiew of immediately visible effectiveness, reeling and
gxainage woxhexs pxefex allopathic medicines, xathex than ayuxuedic, ax,
“folh” remedies, dextain allopathic medicines woxh much quichex.
Slowevex, while they may feel that allopathic medicines axe maxe effective,
this could be due to the use of stexaid based dxugs— which give quick xelief,
but in the long nun, continued use of these dxugs would cause sevexal
haxmful side effects an the pexsans taking them. 5oik xemedies axe
pexceived as providing only limited and tempaxaxy nelief, while allopathic
medicines pxavide nelief fox longex periods of time. Notwithstanding theix
belief that folk nemedies axe less effective, a uexy substantial pnopaxtion of
the respondents use this faxm of “medication.”
13. S^aue^t^
the meeting, and qxaina^e monkexo ptom yoiny mo^ie often
to pfujAiciano, to aaue an consultation fees. Sial, they, continue ufith
medicines pxescd&ed by the doetax fox periods beyond what he had

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aniyinatty p\eocni6ed them fan, without the phyoician9o continued
dupenuioian. £acal phyoiciano one autane of the harmful effecto of otenoid
booed dxuyo, and haue even canfixmed that they have advioed utoxhexo ta
deoiot fnam tahiny theoe dxuyo indiocniminatety. dppaxently, the utoxhexo
axe utittiny to take the xioh if they atoa dee that theoe medicineo enable them
ta ya fax wonk, and without haviny ta mioo theix utayeo.

14. QcnAuttiny qau^mment dactcu h p^tefe^ted tince tfiaf do. not need to. pay,
any fee, ax at the moot a nominal fee. Shene io atoa the paooi&ility that they
can yet fxee medicineo.

15. Since xeeliny and yxainaye utoxhexo axe frequently prone ta falliny dick, ox
duffex fnam chxonic health problemo, they would tihe ta have a doctax
uioitiny theix colony an xeyulax accaoiono. Shey axe even utittiny ta pay a
fee fox thio facility, dt preoent, itioitiny a docton entailo not only a
manetaxy fee but aloa conoidexable eccpenoe of time, which they can ill

affoxd.
16. Waxhiny xeyulaxly io pnefenxed, notwithotandiny thein health problemo.
5hey xequine a mane dteady income, which io immediately expended on theix
family, ao welt ao fan thein pexo anal expenoeo. Sleyulan utayeo hao a
penceptible impact an the food they eat, in both quality ao well ao
frequency of mealo. When reeliny unito axe claoed, the utoxhexo face the
neccodity of neduciny food intake. She additional expendituxe on medicineo,
which the majoxity of utoxhexo need ta buy, reduceo the money fan athen
neceoditieo, even duck baoic requixemento ao moxe nutnitiouo food.
17. With the xelatiuely lout, utayeo, and atoa eocpenoeo athich in 6ame caoeo
eacceed thein utayeo (the yap io uouatty made yaod thxouyh auaitiny of
aduance ayainot utayeo, fnom thein unit awneno), the paodihitity of Guitdiny
up 6cutinyo io ueny limited. Unden the cixcumotanceo, tettiny up thein autn
unito io atoa ueny difficult—atthouyh a feat utexheno do manaye thio
accompliohmenL
Shenefane, upatand oacial mohility thnauyh teeliny
actioity io paooihte fan only a feat teeliny lahauneno. One ohould note ftene
that a feut penoano da, in fact, manaye to oaue a madeot amount. Mane men
deem to 6e ahte to da thio than utomen. We undenotand that theoe oauinyo
axe effected thnouyh the inoiotence of utomen, utha penouade men ta dpend
uthat they utant an atcahat etc., but deep aoide at leaot a omatt amount ao

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acuunye. Alaet uwnen apent iwituaLLy alt theii income on thcii famitiee,
6a oeny foe uuunen could 6aue anything f*om there income.
18 Jt is cleanly seen that ovexatl, the health problems axe to a gxeat extent
notated to the socio-economic conditions of the neeting and gnainage woxkexs.
She fact that they have to take up these occupations, woxh in poox
conditions, and also with poox nutxition, poox medical facilities (the
facilities may be available, but axe not always within the xeach of the
woxhexs), and then, theix povexty exacexbates the health problems.
79. d much longer tenm otudy, fia^ ta be cavded out net anty. te tcet the efficacy
of clinical intwaicnticne but in the social aphe^e,

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We have to be able to moxe cleanly yauye how disabilities caused
by occupational health problems affect the eaxniny capacity of
the individual, and moxe yenexally theix quality of life, fjhe
effect an individuals and the families have to be examined
sepaxately ovex a nelatively tongex pexiod of time, using well
defined indicatons.

a)

fjfiwte u> sufficient evidence tv suyyest that cuemen cute mene
severely affected cuhen they one neelinylynainaye uunhe^e. She
fact that cuemen uuvth even ivhen they one p^ieynant, in an
envvtenment which could cause health problems, would possibly
affect the fetus— and latex, the infants. Jhis could affect the
physical and mental health of the child in both the shoxt urn
andIax in the tony nun, and sexiousty affect his /hex life chances.

5

StecammcndatianA

Jhh otudy ha^ been carded out with the idem to generate remedial meoAivte^
that can cantnel ax reduce the health pwhlemA that cute encountered through
working in reeling, and grainage actiidtieo. Social science and clinical methods
fume been utilized to highlight different aopecto of the health problems. Srom
the racial perspective, it is cleartg seen that poverty, and associated factors are
to a significant degree related to the health problems.
Under the
circumstances, ivhat are the options available to address the health problems ?
Probably the most crucial factor which is related to the health problems is the
technology which is being used, particularly in reeling. We are not concerned
with any particular unit (such as charaka, or cottage basin), but almost all
the reeling units are constructed in a manner, and using a level of technology
where cooking and boiling the cocoons are carried out in an open oven, where
the sericin-steam directly gets into the atmosphere. 3t seems probable that
whatever other measures are taken, when the technology remains essentially
the same, then the reduction in health problems would only be of a limited
nature
fire fighting measures, as it were. Considerably higher capital
would be required to establish reeling units of a technology where closed ovens
ensure that the sericin-steam is hept out of the working space of the units,
dnd, if higher capital requirement becomes the norm, then the majority of
people would not be able to set up their own reeling units, such as the small
scale charaka units, dis a, if higher level technologies are introduced on a
large scale, then the poorer and less technically qualified people would not be
able to get employment opportunities as at present, and as an anti-poverty
programme sericulture would lose its viability. We suggest the following
measures with these limitations in view.
Swo broad options are available in controlling the health problems to workers in
reeling units and grainages: one, is to improve the environmental conditions,
reduce smoke, dust, etc. through improved ventilation etc., and the second option
is to direct remedial measures at the workers themselves.
3f the ivorhing environment was improved through a measure such as the
introduction of the newly designed chute (tested in Stamnagaram and seems
promising), to take out smoke from reeling units, the health problems too would
be reduced.

6

CL ucny, Lcvige pxcp action of, meeting, amts axe fault and nun in eatxunely paax
canditum^, uutfi faxtuaUi^ no. ventilation, paox dnainayc, and in dmall conyeoted
6uxxoundingo. Ufteoe aopecto of the unito9 functioning could 6e impnoued thxouqh
a dud Coined campaign, and aloa financial incentives, to pcxouade neeling awnexo
to impnave theix units9 (jvoxfdng, conditions. Uftexe is a pcnceptifile tach of am/,
sense of uxgena/ ax cuuaxeness of a need la change the ivaxfung enuixanment
among neeting aumexs. Same of the health pnahlems could cextainlg. he neduced if
these ivexe done. ^QOs could he involved in these eocexcises.

Us alLexgg, and nesultant asthma affect only, a pnapaxtion of the u/oxhexs,
pexhapd financial and athex foxms of thxust moi/ have to he dixected towaxds
txeatment of the individual and manitoxing fiislhex pnogxess. U
could he
entxusted with this nesponsifaliti/, and neeling and gxainage woxhexs could he
monitaxed ovex a pexiod of ahout 1-2 geaxs.
She pnesent study, emphasises the degxee of maxhidity as assessed hy clinical
cxitexia in the foxm of symptoms and disability as well as hy impaixed lung
functions. St was noted that the efficiency of the waxhens suffexs due to the
disease, as well as the cast of the txeatment sixains the alxeady poox economic
nesauxees. U moxe sexiaus dimension is the fact that many of these patients axe
placed an conticostexaids axally to contnol asthma symptoms.
Stexaids,
undoubtedly, da cause significant reduction in asthma by a vaxiety of
biochemical mechanisms; but long texm use of stexaids can lead to systemic side
effects; the moxe impaxtant of these axe hypextensian, diabetes, impaixed
immunity leading to fxequent infections and lass of calcium fxom bones
(asteapaxosis). One of the most significant advances in the management of
asthma in genexal has been the availability of inhaled stexaids (namely,
Sieclomethasone, Siudesonide and moxe recently, fluticasone), fhese axe
extensively used in the txeatment of asthma in oux communities, whexevex the
patients can affoxd them. Jnhaled stexaids can cause reduction in asthma with
minimal side effects. Siut the cost of these appeax prohibitive in the context of the
silk woxhexs. fuxthex, the inhalation devices and the prop ex use of them axe
difficult to teach even among educated people in the uxban context; it would
appeax foxmidabte in the field at laxge. One has to xesaxt to laxge volume
spacex devices which can delivex aexosol medications moxe effectively and can be
taught easily. Siut the cost may again be an inhibiting factox, though the spacex
device is a one-time investmenL Unfoxtunately, thexe is a paucity of studies
addressed towaxds the txials of inhaled stexoids in the setting of common

7

accupatuynal asthma models. Swdfi&t, it io not fmauui infietfiex aotfima in
genvad neopando moxe xeadib/^ than the accupatumal uadeh^.
Jn oiew- of these observations, ive decided to administer long acting theophyllin
and non-sedating antihistamine to a group of asthmatic subjects. Jheoe were
given as Jheophyllin (Jfieolong) ICC mg once at bedtime or twice daily,
depending on the severity of aothma; and cetirizine hydrochloride 10 my was
given at bedtime, dfter a period of four weeks, most patients reported some
degree of reduction of symptoms, particularly nocturnal symptoms during the
study period. Perhaps a controlled trial of inhaled steroids, in a study group
can be uery useful to answer the question of an alternative to oral steroids.
Puberculosis: Jt was noted during the study that as many as seven subjects
had developed pulmonary tuberculosis and needed treatment. Alone of the
control subjects (clinical) had pulmonary tuberculosis, ffhough definitive
conclusions can perhaps not be drawn about this, one is intrigued by the rather
high prevalence of tuberculosis in the silh setting. Jt i. atcll known that oral
corticosteroids impair cell mediated immunity and hence it is tempting to
implicate steroids as the cause for reactivation of tuberculosis among some of the
workers. Piut it has to be noted that the subjects with tuberculosis were not
steroid dependent; it is, however, possible that occasional steroid use may have
been resorted to by these asthmatics when asthma was severe, dlso, it is
noteworthy that there were non-asthmatic subjects who had contracted
tuberculosis among the study group. Jt is hence more likely that the congested
living conditions might have been conducive to the lateral spread of tubercular
infection.
3n thio context, it io coodh noting that some occupational pneumoconiooio ouch ao
oilicooio can pxediopaoe oome indioiduato to tuft&tadooio a[ the tunqo. Jt io not
cleave (vhethcH aothma, in oome complex uta^, nedaceo the local immune
mechaniomo and pxediopooe to faeafi-doiun 0/ tuhenculooio. CoeHoll, it io felt
that the fiighe* prevalence of tu&enculooio needo to le loohed into in (yteaten, detail
with epidemioloyically controlled data documentation^

Pediatric Population: Pturiny the couroe of the study, ute noted that a larye
number, of youny children, including, infants in arms, were exposed to silh
enuironmenl do noted earlier, sensitization io occurring at a young age. Jt io
imperative that studies by pediatricians be conducted to see the extent of the
8

pndlcnt and the paAoihCe teng. te^im implications of, the expasute.

C

Jn conclusion, the data obtained f*om this study,, denote that thene is substantial
morbidity due to asthma in silh uionkens. fThe pxeoailiny socio-economic
conditions do not seem to faooux enuvionmental manipulation as the majox
alleuiatiny factor Jt would appeal that provision of. Cony teim fvionchodilatois
and peihaps anti inflammatory drugs such as inhaled steroids to the asthma
subjects may be the viable option to mitigate the suffering as welt as minimize
side effects due to steroids.

C

C_
(

G

G
G

G

C
C
G

G

(

9

Health and Sericulture: A Sociological and Medical Analysis

Chapter I
Introduction

Activities related to sericulture development in India, through government
efforts as well as those of other agencies, are meant to raise the economic

standards of the poor people, improve their employment and income
C

prospects, and thereby improve their quality of life.

When any

development activity also has some negative impact on the beneficiaries, or
those involved in such an activity, one should carefully consider the

direction that development is taking,

and whether such development is

desirable in its present form, and what interventions are required to

remove or reduce the negative aspects of development.

Sericulture has

some negative effects, on the health of reeling and grainage workers. And

thus, when we think of encouraging sericulture development, the health
aspects also have to be addressed,

or else, we would in effect, also be

encouraging health problems.

There are several facets involved in the economic lives of people, the ways
in which they see things, the way they organize their lives depending on
the social conditions around them, the government’s interventions in

development programmes etc.

All these give them a means of deriving

10

sustenance from whatever economic activities that may be available to
them.

With sericulture being an important source of income and

employment for a significant number of people in Sidlaghatta (Kolar

district) the reeling and grainage workers organize their lives around these
activities. However, the issue here is not that all of them uniformly

organize their lives in any specific way, but that their adaptation to their
environment, both social and economic, is in ways that they are already

familiar with, and may be handed down from generations of reeling and

grainage workers. In days past, where health problems were endured,

without much possibility for medication or succour, health issues may not
have received much attention. But now, with advances in technology, as

well as in medicine, it should be possible to manipulate the work situation
in such a way that the workers suffer the least harm on their health

The maximum adverse impact on health is felt by those working in reeling
units, followed by those who work in grainages.

Details to support this

statement would be provided in the text of this report.

In the present study an effort has been made to study the health hazards
of the reeling and grainage workers in the sericulture industry as these
labourers are more prone to health problems compared to mulberry

cultivation, silkworm rearing, silk weaving end other processing activities

* 11

in the industry. The present effort is not merely to assert that there are

health problems, a fact well known already, but that there may be some
means by which tHe problems can be minimized, and that the quality of life

of the workers and others may be enhanced (from their present situation)
even if they were adversely affected by working in a reeling unit or
grainage.

Silk reeling involves working with hot water, dead pupae, and workers are

exposed to smoke and hot and humid conditions in the reeling unit. It is
already known that a chemical called sericin found in silk cocoons causes

allergic reactions in some persons, and leads to respiratory problems as
well as asthma. While cooking the cocoons, the chemical is released with

the steam, and inhalation of this by the labourers leads to respiratory

problems. The labourers are also prone to fungal and bacterial infections
on their hands and feet, and blisters on their hands.

Other health

problems encountered in these units include eye irritation, stomach pain,
irregular menstruation, etc. whose direct link with reeling is, at the

moment, difficult to confirm. Tuberculosis has also been observed in some

of the workers. Here again, it is difficult to see any causal link between
sericulture and tuberculosis, but will be more fully dealt with in the clinical

sections of this report.

12

It should be noted that this study follows another, earlier study which

was done three years ago1 in Ramnagaram, and the present one tries to go

beyond what was observed in that study. Further, the Ramnagaram study
was on a much smaller scale, and we expect the present study to confirm
conclusions as well as highlight issues and facts which were not observed

or reported through the earlier study. Having said this, there are bound to

be some facts and information that appear to be “repetitions.n This is
inevitable, but as a study which has been carried out after a gap of three

years, it has its own utility, when we can confirm and elaborate on matters
which we had considered even earlier.
Terms ofReference

1.

Study the health problems of reeling and grainage workers who are
prone to occupation related health hazards, with a view of
understanding and suggesting measures of controlling such
problems.

2.

Address the paucity of scientifically arrived at knowledge about
sericulture and health.

3.

Analyze the possibility of the health hazards being linked to the
existing technology in practice.

4.

Assist in designing a strategy to reduce the general level of ignorance
about health aspect and sericulture, as well as improve their control,
among the reeling and grainage workers.

5.

Compiling of a data base, of reeling labourers, reeling unit of owners
and workers in grainages.
This includes social and clinical

1 Anand Inbanathan, Om Prakash and others, “Sericulture and Health:
Rearing, Reeling and Working in Grainages,” a Beneficiary Assessment
Report, December 1995, Document no: ISEC/BA/74.

13

indicators.
6.

Preparation of status papers based on Primary and Secondary data.

7.

Suggestions for further designing of action plans in the identified
area based on the above.

Methodology
The study was carried out in Sidlaghatta town. The data for the present

study were collected from primary and secondary sources. Documentary
data were collected from the Department of Sericulture, Sidlaghatta, and

census reports; and other published material too were utilized.

The

primaiy data at the household level were collected by canvassing pre

tested structured questionnaires specially prepared for the study.

Sidlaghatta was selected as the place where the study would be conducted
since it is a large reeling centre, also has grainages in the town, and is
known as an important area for superior quality of silk. The study focuses

mainly on reeling labourers, but has also included owner labourers, small

entrepreneurs, and grainage workers, as they are directly involved in the
silk reeling, and the latter group in the production of seed. The crucial
factor here is that these persons are physically present in the reeling
unit/grainage, which could affect the health of individuals.

In addition to the above, qualitative data were collected to strengthen the

14

results which

emerged from t±ie quantitative analysis by using

participant observation and case study methods. Additional information
on sericulture was sought from municipal councilors, local physicians,

and government sericulture staff.

As a study on health was earlier carried out in Ramanagaram, the next
largest reeling centre, Sidlaghatta, was chosen for the purpose of the

present study. For this study, we have a sample of 250, from 14 localities

of the town. The information gathered from these 250 include not only
facts about the respondents themselves, but also about their households.

Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire specifically developed

for the study. This was a purposive sample. A purely “random” sample

was not considered appropriate, for various reasons.

In the context of

reeling, the majority of people working in reeling units are members of

Scheduled Castes, and Muslims.

For our sample, we decided that these

two groups would need to be better represented in the study. Hence, they

were located in the areas where they were living, predominantly in such

colonies as Adi-Karnataka Colony, Kote, Karmiknagar, Gandhinagar and
Azad Nagar, Filature quarters (near cocoon market). These were also
colonies where there were substantially larger numbers of units, and
therefore, also workers (details of number of units in these colonies were

provided by the sericulture Technical Service Centre). Exact figures of the

15

number of functioning units as well as the total number of workers in

reeling were not available. Hence, a certain limitation was imposed on us
in trying to estimate how many from each group should be included within
our sample. We had decided at the outset that there should be an equal

number of men and women in our sample, and thus, there are 125 of
each.
U

Finding respondents was through locating them in their living

quarters—interviewing them in their units was not feasible, because the

administration of the questionnaire involved about two hours, which was
not available while they worked. Moreover, they had to be contacted over
several visits. An attempt was also made to take a “random” sample of
t

respondents, but even here the limitation was that workers/labourers were
not always available when we went to their homes.

C
L

Hence, at times, we

had to meet and interview only those we could find, and not wait until
someone else, presumably selected on a

more “random” basis was

available. We must state that with people living in each colony being of

more or less the same socio-economic background, an even more strict

application of the principle of “random selection,” would not have derived

any significantly different result than we did.

Ultimately, so far as a

statement of prevalence or incidence of health problems is concerned, we
should acknowledge that this study can only provide broad trends, and

indications of the health problems in reeling units and grainages ,

and

generate hypotheses. A more extensive, cpiUcmiologiccil survey would be

16

needed to confirm and validate our statements on this particular issue
(i.e. prevalence).

A further factor which we have taken into consideration in this study is a

“control group” of persons not in any way connected with reeling
grainages.

or

This is a group which roughly corresponds to the Sidlaghatta

sample, inasmuch as most of the sample are in a lower income group as in

Sidlaghatta. Other than that, there are several differences, which we will
highlight from time to time.

In the presentation of data, we would try and

include with each table, information about Sidlaghatta and also the
“control” village i.e. Hosahalli (Tumkur district).

Though a “control group” was incorporated within the research design to

answer the question whether the occupation alone was related to health

problems, it does not provide all the answers. The dependent variable here
is the state of health of the sericulture/agriculture labourers and the
independent variable is their occupation. Ideally, the control group should

be similar to the research group except for the occupation. Similarities in

the general conditions should include geographical area, age, sex, health,
quality of life2 etc., to confirm the causality of the health problems in the

2

This includes indicators such as food consumption, living conditions, water,
sanitation, education, health, which we have included in our study.

17

sericulture industry.

However, our major problem was in locating a

suitable “control group.”

We tried to overcome this difficulty also through

including case studies, that helped in a more in-depth understanding of

the problems of health and sericulture.

It should be noted here that a

control group was clearly necessary for the clinical analysis of health
problems—but the need for a control group in the social science section

was less apparent.

Sidlagatta: A Profile:
Sidlagatta is one of the 11 taluks in Kolar district of Karnataka state. The
Hindu population in Sidlaghatta is slightly higher than the Muslim

population.

Sericulture activities like silk reeling, silk twisting and

production of silk worm eggs [disease free layings (DFLs)] are the major
occupations of the people. Most of the town population depends on silk

reeling activity for their livelihood. The villages surrounding Sidlaghatta
also depend on sericulture, and agricultural activities are also related to
sericulture.

Sidlagatta

taluk has a population of 1,68,162

and Sidlaghatta town

constitutes about 15 per cent of the taluk’s population. Of the total urban
population of 25,157 the male and female population comprise 51.63 and

48.37 per cent respectively.

In the entire taluk, there are about 32,389

18

Scheduled Castes and 12,969 Scheduled Tribe population, of which 50.4

and 49.6 per cent of SCs are the male and female population respectively.
Out of 12,969 STs, 50.24 and 49.76 per cent are males and females
respectively. Of the total population in Sidlaghatta taluk 40.17 per cent
are literate, which is much below the state average of 56.05 per cent. The
literacy rate among the males is 50.64 per cent and among the females it is

28.72 per cent.

Reeling in Sidlaghatta Town:
Of the total reeling units, the cottage basin reeling technology constitutes

the highest, 58.87 per cent of the total 2470 reeling units. Charka reeling

units are 877 constituting 35.51 per cent. There are 135 dupion reeling
units (5.47 per cent) and four multi end units in the study area. In
addition to the above, four weaving units are found in Sidlaghatta town.

The quality of raw silk produced for the Surat market fetches the highest
price as these merchants are willing to pay even a higher price for the
specified quality of silk.

The reeling industry3 in Sidlaghatta generates

employment for about 9,000 people of which about 80 per cent work in
filature units followed by charka (17.68 per cent) and dupion silk reeling

(2.50 per cent). During 1990-91 the raw silk production was 658 tonnes in
3

This information—on reeling, was provided by officials of the Department
of Sericulture, based at Sidlaghatta.

19

Sidlaghatta which has increased to 917 tonnes in 1996-97. The annual

growth of raw silk production in Sidlaghatta town is 6.57 per cent.

G. Hosahalli — A Profile
With a view to comparing the health situation of people who are in reeling

and grainages with non-reeling/grainage workers, a village in Tumkur
district, G. Hosahalli (Gubbi taluk) was selected. This is also intended to
act as a “control,” with the Sidlaghatta workers as the main part of the

study. Finding a village which had no sericulture activity, in Kolar or in a
neighbouring district was not veiy easy.

Most villages in the vicinity of

Sidlaghatta had sericulture as an important activity.

As it happened,

many parts of Tumkur had taken up sericulture too. Finally the village

chosen had agriculture as the main occupation, but without anyone being
involved in sericulture in a radius of about 5 kilometers.

A “control”

which had to be as similar as possible to the original group, and at the

same time has some significant differences was also considered when this

selection was made. In this sense what we had in mind was the overall
economic activity of a place such as Sidlaghatta, which was essentially a
single industiy town. In comparison, G. Hosahalli is a village which has
agriculture as its main occupation. Differences are clearly evident in the

environment of the two places, the habitation, drainage and general

20

sanitation of the two places (Sidlaghatta being the worse off, and G.
Hosahalli being far cleaner).

This is a

multi-caste village with about 350 households, and a total

population of 1922 persons. Around 48 per cent

of this population are

literate, with the male literacy rate higher than the female literacy rate.
<•

Around 29 per cent of the total population belong to SC/STs. The major
castes in the village are Lingayats, SC/ST, and Tigalas,

other castes like Madivala Shetti,

in addition to

and Brahmin. The total geographical

area of the village is 725 hectares of which 416 hectares are cultivated
land. The major crops grown in the village are paddy, ragi, coconut,

arecanut, horse-gram, banana, pulses, and vegetables.

The sample from Hosahalli includes a majority of Hindus (98 per cent) and

the rest are Muslims (2 per cent), with 85 per cent being married. Of the
total respondents 82.6 per cent are healthy and only 17 per cent have

health problems. This clearly indicates that, by their own perceptions, the
respondents in Hosahalli are healthier than the respondents in Sidlagatta
who are working in silk reeling, and in grainages.

21

The Labourers working in charka technology is 35, constituting 14 per
cent. The respondents from cottage basin technology are a higher number,

constituting 172 i.e. 68.8 per cent of the total sample. The sample also
includes grainage workers, who constitute 6.8 per cent of the total sample.

The reeling and grainage workers in our sample had taken up this work

from a relatively early age. About 22 per cent of the reeling labourers had
taken up the profession when they were in the age group of 6-10 years.
Just over 50 per cent were below 15 years of age when they joined reeling

(Table-2).

On

the

other

hand,

the

age

at joining

grainages was

comparatively higher than with reeling workers.

Table 2
Age When Joined Reeling/Grainage Activity (Sidlaghatta)

Reeling

Grainage
6-10
years
Male

11- 15
years

Total

6-10
11- 15
16 &
years
years
above
44'
25
9
9
47
100.00% 100.00% 21.60% 37.90% 40.50%
16 &
above

Total

116
100.0%

Female

1
7
8
26
31
60
12.50% 87.50% 100.00% 22.20% 26.50% 51.30%

117
100.00%

Total

1
16
17
51
“75
1U7
5.90% 94.10% 100.00% 21.90% 32.20% 45.90%

233
100.00%

23

There were more males who joined sericulture activities before 15 years
Of the 126 reeling workers, 48.7% per

of age, as compared to females.
cent of women,

and 59.5 per cent of men joined before 15 years of age

(Table -2). And, a larger proportion of Scheduled Caste workers in reeling

had joined at the very young age of 6-10 years (See Table 3)

Table 3

Age when joined Reeling/Grainage Activity (Sidlaghatta)
Gramage
Caste

SC&ST
Muslim

6-10
years

11- 15
years

Reeling
16 &
above

Total

6-10
years

14.30% 85.70% 100.00%
4
4
100.00% 100.00%

11- 15
16 &
Total
years
above
19
1K
27
64
29.70%
28.1%
42.2% 100.0%
27
47
57
T2T
19.0%
35.5%
45.5% 100.0%

6
6
100.00% 100.00%
1
1K
17
5.90% 94.10% 100.00%

1
1
100.0% 100.0%
14
24
47
29.8%
51.1% 100.0%
TF
107
233
32.2%
45.9% 100.0%

r

5

7

Christians

Other
Total

9
19.1%

ST
21.9%

In Sidlaghatta town the family size of the Muslim families is generally
higher than that of other communities (Table 4). While the labourers are
poor, they are also aware that family size can have a bearing on education,

for example, and that they are “condemned” to silk reeling.

24

Table 4
Family Size (Sidlaghatta)

Family
size Group
b4

5-7
8 and
above
Total

Muslim

SC & ST

Christian

48
67.6%
20
28.2%
3
4.2%

68
54.4%
52
41.6%
5
4.0%

1
100.0%

7T

V2S

100.0%

100.0%

1
100.0%

Other
(Hindu)
34
64.2%
17
32.1%
2
3.8%
S3
100.0%

Total
151
60.4%
35.6%
10
4.0%

100.0%

Around 52 and 45 per cent of the respondents’ family size ranges between

5-7 and 1-4 persons respectively in Hosahalli (Table 4a)
Table 4 a

Family Size (Hosahalli)
Family Size Madiga

1-4

(

ST

Lin gayat s Muslims Tigalaru

19
13
1
2
48.70%
48.10% 50.00% 28.60%
5-7
18
14
2
1
5
46.20% 100.00% 51.90% 50.00% 71.40%
8 & Above
2
5.10%
Total
39
27
2
2
7
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Brahmin

Total

1
7
1
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

39
45.30%
45
52.30%
2
2.30%
86
100.00%

Madivala
Other
Shetti
castes
1
3
100.00% 42.90%
4
1
57.10% 100.00%

As Muslims are predominant in the reeling industry of Sidlaghatta town,
greater representation was given to Muslims, followed by SC/ST labourers.
Other castes (means Hindus other than SC & STs) constitute 21.20 per

cent of the total sample. The lone Christian respondent is a woman who

25

was converted very recently from the SC community (Table -5).

Table

5

Respondents and Religion/Caste (Sidlaghatta)
Communities
Hindus
SC & ST
Other
Muslim
Christian
Total

Percent

Frequency

71
53
125

28.4
21.2
“50

T
250

100

Table 5a
Distribution by caste/religion (Hosahalli)

Communities
Madiga
ST
Lingayats
Muslims
Tigalaru
Brahmin
Madivala Shetti
Other castes
Total

Frequency

3^
2
27
2

7
1

7
86

Percent
45.3,

2.3
31.4
2.3
8.1
1.2

571
E5
TOO

Owners who are directly involved in their family’s reeling (small units) and
owner labourers (who own the units but reel for wages) are also considered
(Table 6).

However, the reeling labourers were the major section of the

sample.

26

Table 6

Respondents and occupational status (Sidlaghatta)

Occupation
Reeling Owner
Owner Labourer
Reeling labourers
Grainage Workers
Total

Frequency
4
46
183
17
250

Percent
13
1^4
73.20
63
100

Table 6a

Respondents and Occupational Status (Hosahalli)
Occupation

Frequency

Percent

12
52
■2?

14
6(15

Land Owner
Owner Cultivator
Agricultural Labourer
Total

2K3
"TUO

Education of the Respondents:

Of the total 250 respondents 63 per cent were illiterate, and 21 per cent of

the respondents were in the category of minimum education i.e. lower
primary to middle school, and the remaining 16 per cent had studied upto

high school and above (Table - 7).

The SCs had the poorest levels of

education, closely followed by Muslims.

In considering the possibility of

27

social mobility

and

also

whether

the

labourers

can

find

other

employment, the fact that such a high proportion of workers were illiterate
greatly reduces their opportunities for alternative employment.

In this

context, respondents stated that if they were to study upto high school,

they may be able to find a government job, which was considered as the
most preferred form of employment.

We bring up this matter because

alternative employment may reduce the impact of occupational health

problems

particularly among

the

more

severely

afflicted

cases

of

occupational asthma.
Table 7

Education and Caste/Religion of the Respondents (Sidlaghatta)

SC & ST

Muslim

51
71.80%
2

83
66.40%
2

2.80%

1.60%

Primary

4]

IT

Middle

5.60%,
7
9.90%

8.80%
17
13.60%
IT
9.60%

Particulars

Illiterate
Less than 4
years

High School

5
8.50%

Christian

Total

158
63.20%
4

1
100.00%

20

4
7.50%
7
13.20%

12.40%

T5

33

28.30%
3
5.70%

13.20%

1
1.40%

7T
125
100.00% 100.00%

Total

1.60%
1
100.00%

PUC

Any Degree

Other
(Hindu)
24
45.30%

53
100.00%

8.00%

3T

3
1.20%
1
0.40%
250
100.00%

28

Most of the illiterate people of this village (Hosahalli) belong to SCs
comprising 68 per cent (Table 7a).

The highest literacy rate is found

among Lingayats which is a forward community (Table-7a).
Table 7a
Education and Caste/Religion of the Respondents (Hosahalli)
Particular Madiga
ST
Lingaya Muslims Tigalaru Brahmi Madival Other
Total
s
ts
n
a Shetti castes
27
Illiterate
1
6
2
J
I
40
69.20% 50.00% 22.20%
28.60%
42.90% 100.00 46.50%
%

Less than
4 years
Primary
Middle

High
School
/SSLC

1
1
2.60%
3.70%
2
1
5.10% 50.00%
2
6
5.10%,
22.20%
3
5

1
50.00% 28.60%
2
28.60%
1
1

7.70%

50.00%

33.30%

2
2.30%

7

1
14.30%

8.10%
11
12.80%

T
14.30%
1
1

14.30% 100.00

15

14.30%

18.60%

1
14.30%

5
5.80%
1
1.20%
4

%

PUC

2
5.10%

Diploma

Any
Degree
Total

2

2
7.40%
1
3.70%
2

5.10%
7.40%
4.70%
3^
2
2
27
7
1
V
1
85
100.00% 100.00% 100.00 100.00% 100.00% 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00%
%

Several males have studied up to high school

%!

%

%

and beyond, dut the

educational levels of women in reeling and grainages are not as high
(Table-8)

29

Table 8
Gender and Educational Level (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)
Sample

Gender Illiterate Less than Primary Middle
4 years
Sidlaghatta Male
62
4
9
20
49.60%
3.20% 7.20% 16.00%

Hosahalli

Male

Sidlaghatta Female
Hosahalli

Total

Female

24
35.80%

96
76.80%
16
84.20%
198
63.20%

1
1.50%

6
9.00%

1
5.30%
6
1.60%

11
8.80%
1
5.30%
27
8.00%

High
School
27
21.60%

1 1

15'

16.40%

22.40%

11
8.80%

6
4.80%
1
5.30%
49
13.20%

42
12.40%

PUC

Diploma

2
1.60%
5
7.50%

1
1.50%

1

8

Total

1
125
0.80% 100.00%

0.80%

1.20%

Any
Degree

1

4
67
6.00% 100.00%
125
100.00%
19
100.00%
6
336
0.40% 100.00%

Among the female respondents (Hosahalli) 84 per cent were illiterate but
only 36 per cent of the males were illiterate (Table-8).

All the reeling owners have studied upto high school, while owner
labourers have a range of educational levels from those who were illiterate
to one who was a graduate. Grainage labourers in our sample were mostly

illiterate. This may be because the silk reeling labourers were a relatively

younger group and may have had better educational opportunities than

grainage, workers whose average age was higher. They (grainage workers)

may have had poorer educational facilities in their younger years (Table 9).

30

Table 9
Education and Occupational Status (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars
Reeling
Reeling
Reeling Grain age Total
Owner
Owner Labourer Labourer
labourer
Illiterate
22
123
13
158
47.80% 67.20% 76.47% 63.20%
Less than 4 years
2
2
4
4.30%
1.10%
1.60%
Primary
5
15
20
10.90%
8.20%
8.00%
Middle
9
22
31
19.60% 12.00%
12.40%
4
High school /
7
19
3
33
SSLC
100.00%
15.20% 10.40%
17.64% 13.20%
2
PUC
1
3
1.10%
5.88%
1.20%
Any Degree
1
1
2.20%
0.40%
4
46
183
17
250
Total
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Table 9a
Education and Occupational Status (Hosahalli
Agriculturist
Owner
Agricultural
Total
Particulars
Cultivator
Labourer
40.
24
1
15
Illiterate
8.30%
46.20%
68.20%
46.50%
1
1
2
Less than 4 years
1.90%
4.50%
2.30%
5
2
7
Primary
9.60%
9.10%
8.10%
3
7
1
11
Middle
25.00%
13.50%
4.50%
12.80%
4
10
High School/SSLC
2
16
33.30%
19.20%
9.10%
18.60%
PUC
2
2
1
5
16.70%
3.80%
4.50%
5.80%
Diploma
1
1
8.30%
1.20%
Any Degree
1
3
4
8.30%
5.80%
4.70%
Total
12
52
22
86
100.00%
100.00%
100.00% 100.00%

31

In the course of interviewing reeling and grainage workers, we had also

asked why they chose to take up these occupations. Several reasons were
given in answer to that question.

In many respects reeling labour, for

example, is tedious, the work is in a poor environment, and the
possibilities of occupational advancement are limited.

Therefore, there

should be compelling reasons for anyone to take up employment as reeling
labourers.

Our data (Table - 11) reveal that of the 10 reasons to take up reeling
activity, No other alternative

is the major reason for taking up reeling

activity by the labourers, where 65.20 per cent have said they had no other

alternative. In the context of why anyone should choose to take up reeling
or grainage activities, we should also consider the fact that three fourths
(75.2%) of the reeling and grainage workers were bom in Sidlaghatta town

or neighbouring villages. One fourth had migrated from elsewhere, either
within Karnataka or another state. An immediate point that occurs here
is that most people prefer to remain near their place of birth, and look for
employment within this area itself.

If occupational opportunities are

limited then we would find them concentrated in types of work which to an

outsider, may appear a poor means of earning a livelihood. An additional
factor is that a significant number of respondents (43 per cent) stated that

their parents (one or both) had also been/o'r still are, working in reeling.

32

This, in many ways, also predisposes them to take up reeling work
(Table-10).

Table 10
Parents working in Reeling/Grainage

Parents in
reeling/
Grainage
Yes

Grainage Reeling

No

17
132
144
100.00% 56.70% 57.60%

Total

Total

101
101
43.30% 40.40%

T7

233
250
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Among the relatively negative features of reeling/grainages is that a

significant proportion of reeling and grainage workers suffer from health
problems after working in these activities for a few years.

However, we

should also note that to the reeling labourers themselves, reeling work has

advantages over agriculture, and with all its problems, things could have
been worse.

33

Table 11
Reasons for opting to work in reeling/grainage, across caste/religion

Particulars
Easy to get job

Family problems
Can make money

No other alternative

SC & ST

Muslim

1
1.40%

S'
11.30%
3
4.20%
4g
67.60%

1

1.40%
Work is easier
Safety of Government
Job

5j
7.00%
3
4.20%

Know only this job

Other
(Hindu)

2

5
5.70%

6
2.40%

5

22

5.70%

13.20%

8.80%
24
9.60%

56

22

165

68.80%

65.20%

0.80%
4

54.70%
1
1.90%
1

3.20%
6
4.80%

1.90%
2
3.80%

2.40%
13

T

S’

0.80%

11.30%
1
1.90%

7

1
100.00%

2
2.80%

Nearness to the
residence

Total

1

71
100.00%

Total

1.60%
11
8.80%
15
10.40%

T

Continuous work
Parents insisted on
work

Christian

0.80%
125
100.00%

1
100.00%

2
0.80%

5

5.20%
16
4.00%

5
1.20%
1

0.40%
53
250
100.00% 100.00%

On the other hand, if a permanent job materializes, or a loan is given to
establish some other business, the labourers are ready to leave the reeling
job. The gender-wise breakup for the reason that reeling and grainage

workers take up this kind of work is given in (Table-12).

A much larger

34

I

number of men, compared to women, have claimed that they can make

money by taking up reeling work. This may be due to the manner in which
family life and gender values manifest themselves in these occupations.

Men can set up units, seek loans and carry out marketing activities in a far

more facile manner than women. Though men too would have difficulties
in setting up and running reeling units, it is still more realistic for men to
consider the possibility of setting up their own units.

Table 12
Gender-wise Reasons for Taking up reeling/grainage work
(Sidlaghatta)

Male

Easy
Family
to get problems
job
3
8
2.40%
6.40%

Female ____ 3
2.40%

Total

6
2.40%

Can
No other] Contin- Parents Work is Safety of Know
Nearness
make altemati uous insisted easier Govern only this
to the
money
ve
Work on work
ment Job
job
residence
___
*
21
74 _____ 1
2
7
7'
1
16.80% 59.20% 0.80%
1.60% 5.60%
5.60% 0.80%
0.80%

14
11.20%

3
89
2.40% 71.20%

1
0.80%

4
3.20%

6
4.80%

3
2.40%

2
1.60%

22
8.80%

24
163
9.60% 65.20%

2
0.80%

6
2.40%

13
5.20%

10
4.00%

3
1.20%

Total

125
100.00%

125
100.00%
1
0.40%

A working day in a reeling unit:
The number of hours that a worker puts in varies from time to time. When
cocoon prices are low, then more cocoons are bought, and workers work

longer hours (including over time). However, the figures we have presented

are meant to indicate veiy roughly, an average working day for a reeling

worker (Table 13). There are a few persons who may work for a shorter

35

250
100.00%

period in a reeling unit and then take up selling vegetables, ice cream,

groundnuts or green peas.
Table 13

Hours of work per day

Number of
Hours

T3
6-8
9 and above
Total

SC & ST
5
7.00%

27
38.00%
SO
54.90%
71
100.00%

Muslim

Christian

Other
(Hindu)

Total

S
5.60%
57
45.60%
6T
48.80%
125
100.00%

5.70%

1
100.00%

1
100.00%

15
6.00%

3S

ITS

62.30%
17
32.10%
53
100.00%

47.20%

TTZ
46.80%
250
100.00%

The number of days a worker is involved in reeling activities (Table 14) over
a year is difficult to confirm with any great degree of confidence. We

had

to depend on the respondents’ memory, and their ability to estimate the

number of days in a week they worked, the number of days in a month
etc., over a year, and without the help of any written records.

In a very

general manner we can say that a substantial number of people have many
days in a year when they do not get any income from reeling or grainages
(i.e if they are not permanent employees). A few of our respondents have,
in these circumstances, taken up petty business activities to earn

something to support themselves and their families.

36

Table-14

Number of days worked in a year
Range of Time in
Days
1-150 days
151 - 200 days

201 - 250 days

251 - 300 days

300 & above
Total

SC & ST
5
7.00%
17
23.90%
22
31.00%
17
16.90%

15'
21.10%
7T
100.00%

Muslim

Christian

3
2.40%

22.40%
58
46.40%
2^
17.60%
14
11.20%
T25
100.00%

1
100.00%

Other
(Hindu)

Total

2
3.80%
4
7.50%
23
43.40%

10
4.00%
49
19.60%
1(54
41.60%

5

43

17.00%

17.20%
44
17.60%
250
100.00%

T5
1
100.00%

28.30%
53
100.00%

In the course of a year, many factors could intervene to reduce the number
of days that a person can work.

These factors are listed in Table- 15.

j

Closure of units is one of the major problems in reeling, and another major

problem is illness.

Female labourers appear to be more prone to illness,

which we will discuss later (Table 16).

37

Table-15

Reasons for stopping work
Particulars

SC & ST

Closure of Unit

Muslim

28
39.40%

Unfavourable weather
conditions
Unfavourable prices

Raw materials not
available
The owner incurred losses

2
2.80%
1
1.40%
19
26.80%

Illness
Maternity

Others

2
2.80%
19
26.80%
71
100.00%

Not stopped

Total

44
35.20%
2
1.60%
6
4.80%
5
4.00%
2
1.60%
29
23.20%
1
0.80%
8
6.40%
28
22.40%
125
100.00%

Christian

Other
(Hindu)

20
37.70%

1
1.90%

2
3.80%

1

100.00%,
1
100.00%

1
1.90%
29
54.70%
53
100.00%

Total

92
36.80%
2
0.80%
7
2.80%
7
2.80%
3
1.20%
50
20.00%
1
0.40%
11
4.40%
77
30.80%
250
100.00%

Table 16
Gender and reasons for stopping work
Gender Closure Unfavour Unfavour
Raw
The owner
of Unit
able
able
materials incurred
weather
prices
was not
losses
conditions
available
4
Male
45
1
5
2
36.00%
0.80%
4.00%
3.20%
1.60%

Illness

others Maternity

Not
stopped

19
15.20%

4
3.20%

45
125
36.00% 100.00%

Total

Female

47
37.60%

1
0.80%

2
1.60%

3
2.40%

1
0.80%

31
24.80%

7
5.60%

1
32
125
0.80% 25.60% 100.00%

Total

92
36.80%

2
0.80%

7
2.80%

7
2.80%

3
1.20%

50
20.00%

11
4.40%

1
77
250
0.40% 30.80% 100.00%

38

Chapter III
Economic Conditions ofReeling and Grainage Workers
We have tried to ascertain the economic conditions of reeling and grainage

workers in Sidlaghatta writh a view to gauging their life style and its relation
to health. Within this, we have asked whether they have any lands, types

of houses in which they live, assets they own, their borrowing, etc.

As

expected, veiy few persons of our sample own any significant area of land

(Table 17). None of the female respondents owns land.
Table -17

Caste and ownership of Land (Sidlaghatta)
Land Size

SC & ST

1-2.50 acres

3
4.20%
1
1.40%
67
94.40%
71
100.00%

2.51 - 5 acres

Nil
Total

Muslim

Christian

1
0.80%
1~
0.80%
123“

98.40%
175“
100.00%
Table 17a

1
100.00%
1
100.00%

Other
(Hindu)

Total

T
1.90%
2
3.80%
50
94.30%
55
100.00%

5
2.00%
4
1.60%
241
96.40%
25U
100.00%

Land Ownership (Hosahalli)

Land Size
0.01-2.50 acres
2.51 - 5 acres
5.01 - 10 acres
10 and above
NT!
Total

Frequency
Percent
4575
47 ‘
12
14
11
17^
3
3.5,
~
18
20^
'
55
TUO
39

To indicate the economic conditions of the respondents we have

considered their ownership of assets, including a house. Obviously, with

the predominant segment of our sample being from the group of ‘poor’ or
low income, the majority do not own any house. Even those who own a

house (and 44% do), the majority live in kaccha4 and semi-pucca5 houses

(see tables 18 &19 ). When we see that the majority live in “rented” houses,

the indication is that they live in houses that they do not own.
these people live in quarters provided by reeling owners.

Most of

Even here, we

find that the quarters are of a poorer kind, with kaccha and semi-pucca
Just 15 respondents (6%) live in

houses being the predominant kinds.

pucca houses, and only 11 of them own these houses.
Table- 18

House ownership across caste/religion
Ownership
Own
Rented
Total

SC & ST

37
52.10%
34
47.90%

7T
100.00%

Muslim

Christian

Other
(Hindu)
25
47.20%

48
38.40%

52.80%

110
44.00%
140
56.00%

T

53

250

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

77
61.60%
VZS
100.00%

Total

2S
100.00%

4

We have classified those houses as kaccha, which have mud and brick
walls, and mud floors. The inhabitants have the floor covered with cow
dung. Roofs are of thatch, or tiles.
5 Semi-pucca houses have cement floors, brick walls, and roofs of
tiles/sheets. Pucca houses are those with RCC roofs, cement and brick
walls, and cement floors.

40

Table 19

Type of House

Ownership
Own

Kaccha
55
50.0%

Rented

■gg

Total

63.57%
T44
57.6%

Semi-pucca
44
40.00%
47
33.57%

Pucca

TT
10.00%
4
2.86%

15
36.4%

6.00%

Total
T10
100.00%
T40
100.00%
■550
100%

With the poor condition of the houses, when it rains the houses are
usually flooded, leading to health problems. It is particularly in the Adi-

Karnataka (SCs) colony, that houses and drainage are in a poor condition,
and when it rains the houses invariably get flooded. The size and

congested surroundings of the AK colony also have associated problems.
For instance, one of the respondents had been afflicted with asthma, and
later he was also diagnosed as having tuberculosis. Shortly after, his wife

was also diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Living in a small space makes it

possible for the TB to spread from person to person. They are now worried

that their son may also get TB. Many families in this colony (also among
our respondents) have similar problems.

In addition to houses, several respondents also possessed other assets, as
indicated in Table 20.

Table 21 reveals that, generally, as income

increases, the assets also increase. Howevpr, among the income group of

41

information about assets were only reluctantly

24,001 to 30,000,

revealed, and it is possible that assets have been understated.

Larger

family incomes were usually related to several members in the family being
t )

employed.

But, there is no clear relationship between higher incomes and

more assets. People’s spending habits too differed. As we observed, there
were several respondents (particularly in grainages) who were earning
reasonably high incomes, but had very few assets (Table-21). We were told

that these were also the persons who spent considerable amounts on

liquor. Table 22 represents assets across ownership/occupation.
Table 20

Other assets across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)
SC & ST

Assets

1
1.40%
5
7.00%

Bullock cart

Cycle
Motorbike

Radio

26
36.60%
1
1.40%

T.V & Others

3K

None
*•

Total

53.50%
71
100.00%

Muslim
1
0.80%
20
16.00%
2
1.60%
43
34.40%

Christian

9
17.00%

Total
2
0.80%
34
13.60%

2
0.80%

1
100.00%

1T
8.80%
4$
38.40%
125
100.00%

Other
(Hindu)

1
100.00%

52

92

41.50%
4
7.50%

36.80%

34.00%
53
100.00%

re

6.40%
T04
41.60%
250
100.00%

42

Table 21
Other assets across income (Sidlaghatta)

Assets

C

Bullock cart
Cycle
Motorbike

Less than 60016000
12000

1
50.0%
2
5.88%

r

3
8.82%

1200124000

2400130000

4
11.76%

T
1.08%

TV &> others

None

2
12.5%

S
7.69%

Total

IK
6.0%

Total

2
5.88%

T
50.0%
23
67.64%
50.0%
38
41.30%

100.0%
92
100.0%

5
31.25%
l^
11.53%
80
32.0%

16
100.0%
IU4
100.0%

2
100.0%
34
100.0%

T

50.0%

Radio

30001
and
above

8
8.69%

33
35.86%

12
13.04%

1
6.25%
28
26.92%
4(J
16.0%

7
43.75%
41
39.42%

1
6.25%
15
14.42%

SK

3T)

34.0%

12.0%

25^
100.0%

In very broad terms, we can state that as nearly half (42%) the respondents

do not own any of the assets listed above, their lifestyle is also of a very
modest standard, indicating

extreme poverty.

A higher proportion of

Scheduled Castes (53.50%) fall within this category of extremely poor.

43

Table 22
Other assets across occupation
Assets

Reeling
Owner

Reeling
Owner
labourer

Bullock cart

Cycle
Motorbike

Radio

T.V & Others

2
1.10%
1
25.00%
1
25.00%
1
25.00%
1
25.00%

None

Total

Reeling Gramage
Labourer Labourer

4
100.00%

15
32.60%
1
2.20%

FT
6.00%

7
41.18%

Total

2
0.80%
34
13.60%

2

T5 "
65
39.10% ' 35.50%
6
9
13.00%
4.90%
6
96
13.00%
52.50%
46
183
100.00% 100.00%

8
47.06%

2
11.76%
17
100.00%

0.80%
52
36.80%
16
6.40%
164
41.60%
250
100.00%

One of the most sought after attributes of working in reeling units is the

availability of advance against wages.

With all its (reeling) negative

features, the possibility of interest-free loans/grants, is most attractive to
the labourers. Thus, a veiy large number of the respondents (79 per cent)
have taken advance from their respective owners

workers do not get any advance.

(Table 23). Grainage

Reasons for taking advance included: to

meet day to day obligations, to perform religious functions, and due to

illness (Table 24). Taking advance is not an entirely beneficial transaction
to the labourers. Once they have taken a substantial sum as advance, they

are tied to the same unit, irrespective of the wages they get. For instance,

44

a respondent, Akthar Unnisa, aged about 38 years, has taken Rs.9,800
as advance to arrange the marriage for her daughter, and pay for
medication during her illness She says, “my earnings are not sufficient to

run the family itself, then how can I repay the advance/loan taken from my

owner. Without repaying the advance, I will not be allowed to go out of the
reeling unit and also from this job.” In a few cases, respondents have been
(

able to borrow money from one owner to repay the advance taken from
another. But if the amount is very large, other owners would not advance

money to that extent.

In another instance a man indicated his wife as

guarantor for the advance. And, together, they had taken Rs.20,000 as
(

advance. The man took the money and left Sidlaghatta and his family.

i

Now, his wife Shaheena (26 years of age) is working in the same unit as a
bonded labourer.

A portion of her earnings is taken for household

expenses and the remaining is considered as loan repayment.

45

Table 23

Advance taken among reeling labourers of different castes and religion

Range of advance

SC & ST

NIT

15
24.60%
3
4.90%

501 - 1000

5001 - 10000

21
26.90%
3
3.80%

2^

27
34.60%
18
23.10%
9
11.50%

10001 and above
Total
100.00%

N = 183*
Total

Other
(Hindu)

42.60%
14
23.00%
3
4.90%

1001 -3000

3001 -5000

Muslim

7S
100.00%

3
6.80%

39
21.30%

2

S

4.50%
11
25.00%

4.40%

54
35.00%
45
26.20%
22
12.00%

T5
36.40%
10
22.70%
2
4.50%
44
100.00%

2
1.10%

rg3
100.00%

*Only reeling labourers

Table - 24
Reason for taking advance by reeling labourers
N = 183
SC & ST

Muslim

To clear old debt
To perform religious functions
To meet day to day family
obligations

Illness
Construction of House

Advance not taken
Total

Other

Total

T

5

2
66.7%
6

3
33.3% 100.0%l.
10
21

23.8%
42

28.6%
36

47.6%
29

100.0%
107

39.3%
6
27.3%
1
50.0%
7
25.0%
61
33.3%

33.6%
15
68.2%

27.1%
1
4.5%
1
50.00%
2
7.1%
44
24.0%

100.0%
22
100.0%
2
100.0%
28
100.0%
183
100.0%

19
67.9%
78
42.6%

46

While her

(Shaheena) wages are very low (as with other reeling

labourers), she has two small children to support. She also has asthma

and so too with one of her children. So there is hardly any money left for
medical expenses, thus aggravating the health problem.

When in financial need, which was a regular feature with most labourers,

their usual practice was to take an advance against their wages from the
unit owner. Owners themselves would need to look for alternative sources

of funds when they needed additional finances than they had readily at
hand.

The lack of collateral among labourers was one of the crucial

reasons why they preferred advance against wages. Other reasons included
the fact that advance money did not carry any interest, and was more
easily available, and payment schedules were convenient. However, if
larger sums were needed, than the owner was willing to pay, then there

would be some difficulties in raising loans/funds (Table 25).

47

Table 25

Source from which loan is ta.ken
Particulars
Unit Owner

SC & ST

Muslim

Christian

1
100.0%

Money Lender

1
100.0%

Neighbours/Relatives
Commercial Banks

Any other source
Not taken

Total

Other
(Hindu)

4
100.0%

4
66.7%
4
40.0%
52
27.2%
7T
28.4%

Total
1
100.0%
1
100.0%
4
100.0%

S’

6

33.3%
3
30.0%

100.0%

ns
ns

50.9%

1
4.0%
1
4.0%

3
30.0%
45'
21.5%

ru

100.0%
100.0%

S3-

250

21.2%

100.00%

Quite a few respondents said if financial assistance is given for

animal

50.0%

husbandry like daily, poultry, rearing pigs etc., they are ready to take up

such occupations rather than reeling activity, which according to them is
also detrimental to their health. Those who had indicated health problems

also suffered from asthma or tuberculosis, or both. They wanted to get out

of the reeling occupation, but as of now, could not.

A very small proportion of respondents were able to save through various
schemes (Table-26).

The rest stated that their minimum expenditure were

usually in excess of their income, and therefore, it is quite beyond their

capacity to “save.”

48

Table 26

Nature of savings across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars

Chitfunds

LIC

SC & ST

Muslim

2
50.0%
5
35.7%

1
25.0%
4
28.6%

Other
(Hindu)

Total

1
25.0%
5
35.7%

4
100.0%
14
100.0%
1
100.0%

T

NSC

100.0%
53
27.3%
71
28.4%

None

I

Christian

Total

1
0.4%
1
0.4%

51.9%
125
50.0%

47
20.3%
55
21.2%

25T
100.0%
250
100.00%

Table 26a

Nature of savings across caste/religion (Hosahalli)
Particulars

Madiga

Commercial
Banks
LIC

1
100.0%
2
40.0%
36
45.0%
39
45.3%

None
_ Total

ST

2
2.5%,
2
2.3%

Lingayats

2
40.0%
25
31.3%
27
31.4%

Muslims Tigalaru

2
2.5%
2
2.3%

1
20.0%
6
7.5%
7
8.1%

Brahmin Madivala
Shetti

1
1.3%
1
1.2%

7
8.8%
7
8.1%

Other
castes

Total

1
■1.3%

1
1.2%

When savings rate of males and females are compared, a marginally higher
proportion of males in the Sidlaghatta sample i.e., 11.20 per cent are
saving a portion of their income, but females constitutes only 4 per cent

(Table-27). A probable reason is that a significant number of the males
drink and spend on what may be considered as non-essentials, but have a

49

1
100.0%
5
100.0%
80
100.0%
86
100.00%

small amount left over. Women have to take care of the family expenses

which could take their entire earnings.

The phenomenon of a larger

proportion of men being able to save appears to be at the initiative of

women—where women insist that men save some of their income in chit
funds, and spend the rest on liquor etc., if they choose. Women need to

support their families, and have no savings after their expenses. Therefore,

males save more but not the females.

An effort was made to see the

savings rate across ownership (Table - 28). We did not find any significant
difference across ownership of the unit as the sample is concentrated on
reeling labourers, and the owners are also not large entrepreneurs.

However, a significant number of grainage workers had taken up LIC
policies.
Table-27
Nature of savings and gender (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars
Male
Female
Total
4
4
Chitfunds
100.00%
100.00%
14
LIC
9
5
64.30%
35.70%
100.00%
NSC
T
T
100.00%
100.00%
None
111
120
231
48.10%
51.90%
100.00%
Total
125
250
50.00%
50.00%
100.00%

50

Table-27a

Nature of savings and gender (Hosahalli)
Particulars
Commercial Banks
LIC

None
Total

Male

Female

Total

T

1
1.50%
5
7.50%
61
91.00%
67
100.00%

19
100.00%
19
100.00%

1.20%
5
5.80%
80
93.00%
86
100.00%

Table 28

Ownership and Savings

Particulars
Reeling Owner
Reeling Owner
Labourer
Reeling Labourer

Chitfunds

LIC

NSC

I

3

25.0%
1
25.0%
2
50.0%

1.3%
43
18.6%
TT7
76.6%

2
14.3%
3
21.4%

1
100.0%

S

Grainage labourer
Total

None

4
100.0%

64.3%
T4
100.0%

1
100.0%

3.50%
231
100.0%

Total
4
1.6%
45
18.4%
TS3
73.2%
T7
6.8%
250
100.0%

Income & Expenditure ofReeling and Grainage Workers

Even with the recognizable health problems,

workers showed a clear

preference for reeling work. The reasons included a relatively regular
income, accommodation from unit owners, interest free advance, much of

which are not available in other occupations, and agriculture. In fact, even
with health problems, they felt they were better off in reeling since they

51

t co

06752

y-X

could eat more regularly—something not always the case in seasonal

agricultural work.

This last point is the reason w’hy several of our

respondents had even migrated from other places, to Sidlaghatta. Being
illiterate, most of the workers were also under no illusions about their job

prospects.

While the rate of wages is more or less the same for all workers who hire
out their labour to reeling units, the major differences in annual incomes
of these workers depend only on the number of days they work in a year.

Family income is an aggregate of the incomes of several persons who take

up paid work.

Except in the case of owners, who may earn substantial

incomes even when there is only one family member in a sericulture

occupation, in the remaining cases, family income is directly related to the
number of workers in a family. The higher income in a sense is also related

to higher expenditure on specific items such as food, since there are more
members in the family.

Grainage workers generally received higher

salaries, since they were paid by the month, and wrere usually permanent
employees. They were also better equipped with health support,

so that

their personal expenses on medicines etc., urere also less than that of

workers in private units.

52

J

Table 29

Number of members working in a family(Sidlaghatta)

Family
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Size group Member Members Members Members Members Members Members
33
84
24
TO
76.70%
70.60% 63.20% 27.80%
5-7
9
34
14
23
7
2
20.90%
28.60%
36.80% 63.90% 77.80%
50.00%
8 & Above

1
2.30%

1
0.80%

J

3
8.30%

22.20%,

43
119
SB36
9
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Total

1

Total

151
60.40%
89
35.60%

1
100.00%

50.00%

1U
4.00%

1

4

250

100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Table 29a

Number of members working in a family (Hosahalli)

Particulars

0

1 Member 2 Members 3 Members 4 Members 5 Members

1-4

1
50.00%

11
44.00%

19
52.80%

6
40.00%

2
28.60%

39
45.30%

5-7

1
50.00%

14
56.00%

17
47.20%

8
53.30%

5
71.40%

45
52.30%

*
8 & Above

1

Total

Total

1
6.70%

2
100.00%

25
100.00%

36
100.00%

15
100.00%

1
100.00%
7
100.00%

2
2.30%

1
86
100.00% 100.00%

53

Table 30

Working members in a family across different castes (Sidlaghatta)
Communities
SC & ST

Muslim

Christian
Other

Total

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Member Members Members Members Members
Members Members
8
39
14
6
3
~T
1 1.30%
54.90%
19.70%
8.50%
4.20%
1.40%,
23
58
16
21
4
1
2
18.40%
46.40%
12.80%
16.80%
3.20%
0.80%
1.60%
1
100.00%
12
21
8
9
2
1
22.60%
39.60%
15.10%
17.00%
3.80%
1.90%
43
119
38
36
9
1
4
17.20%
47.60%
15.20%
14.40%
3.60%
0.40%
1.60%

Total
71
100.00%
125
100.00%
1
100.00%
53
100.00%
250
100.00%

i

Table 30a
Working members in ia family across difTerent caste (Hosahalli)
Caste

0

Madiga

ST
Lin gayat s

1
50.00%

VI u slims
Tigalaru

1
50.00%

Brahmin

1 Member

2
'
3
4
5
Members Members Members Members
8
20
8
2
T
32.00%
55.60%
53.30%
28.60% 100.00%
1
1
2.80%
6.70%
12
8
3
3
48.00%
22.20%
20.00%
42.90%
1
1
4.00%
6.70%
2
2
1'
1
8.00%
5.60%
6.70%
14.30%
1
4.00%

Madivala Shetti

4

4.00%;

Other castes
Total

2
100.00%

25
100.00%

11.10%
1
2.80%
36
100.00%

1

1

6.70%

14.30%

15
100.00%

7
100.00%

1
100.00%

Total
39
45.30%
2
2.30%
27
31.40%
2
2.30%
7
8.10%
1
1.20%
7

8.10%
1
1.20%
86
100.00%

54

Table 31

Income level across ownership and number of family members working.
Ownership
Income
___________
level
Reeling Owner Less than
6000

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Member Members Members Members Members
Members Members
1
100.00%

1

1

1

100.00% 100.00%

100.00%

1
100.00%

1
100.00%

2

1

r

1
100.00%

33.30%

5.00%

25.00%

600112000

1
100.00%

3i

75.00%

1

4,
100.00%
5|

8.30%

10.90%

1

1

5.00%

1200124000
2400130000
30001 &
above

Reeling
Labourer

Less than
6000

600112000

1200124000

2400130000

1

25.00%

30001 and
above

Reeling Owner) Less than
labourer
6000

Total

2.20%

1

3

16.70%,
1

15.00%,
4

16.70%

20.00%

2

11

3

10

3

1

30^

33.30%

55.00%

75.00%

83.30%

100.00%

100.00%

65.20%

12
3
100.00% 100.00%

1
100.00%

46j
100.00%
9^

4,
8.70%|
6^

1

8.30%

6
20
4
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%,
8
T

13.00%

26.70%

1.10%

19

20

63.30%

21.30%

__
3

63

11

4

10.00%

67.00%

37.90%

20.00%

7

10

4

2

23

7.40%

34.50%

20.00%

33.30%

12.60%

4.90%

39i
21.30%

81
44.30%

55

30001 and
above

3

8

3.20% 27.60%
94
29
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
30

Grainage
Labourer

24001 30000

4

12

1

3

31

60.00% 66.70% 100.00%, 100.00%
20
6"
1
3
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

16.90%

1

1

20.00%

30001 and
above

l
i

LSP Owner

4

4

6.30%

4

3

15

80.00% 100.00% 100.00%
5
4
4
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

100.00%

93.80%

3
100.00%

100.00%

16

T

30001 and
above

f

100.00%l
1
100.00%

I

100.00%
1
100.00%

Table - 32
I

Reeling Technology and Income Group

I

Technology

less
than
6000

Dupion Silk Unit

5
19.20%

2
7.70%

10
38.50%

3
1 1.50%

2

7

11

4

5.70%

20.00%

31.40%

11.40%

8

31

64

22

4.70%

18.00%

37.20%

12.80%

27.30% 100.00%

1
5.90%

16
17
94.10% 100.00%

30
12.00%

80
32.00%

Charaka
Technology
Cottage Basin
Technology

6001 12000

12001 24000

Grainages

Total

183
100.00%

15
6.00%

40
16.00%

I
85[

34.00%j

24001 30001
30000 and above

Total

6
26
23.10% 100.00%

11

35

31.40% 100.00%

47

172

250
100.00%

56

Table - 33

Distribution of respondents across various income groups
(Sidlaghatta)

Less than
6000
12000
1200124000
2400130000
30001
above
Total

Muslims

SC/ST

Income

11
8.8%

1
1.4%

TT

2T

5"

16.8%
33
26.4%
14
11.2%
4^
36.8%
17K
100.0%

15.1%
T7
32.1%

TT

15
6.0%
4(7
16.0%
85
34.0%

3
5.7%

15.5%
35
49.3%
15.5%
13
18.3%
71
100.0%

&

Total

Others
(Hindu)

Christians

5"

3U

1
100.0%

9.4%
20
37.7%

12.0%
K0
32.0%

100.0%

100.0%

r

53
100.0%

Table — 33 a

Distribution of respondents across various income groups (Hosahalli)
Income
Less than
5000

5001-10000
10001-15000
15001-20000

20001-30000
30001-40000
40001
and above
Total

Madiga

ST

Lingayats

Muslims

Tigalaru

Brahmin

Madivala
Shetti

Other
castes

Total

3

3

1

71

7.70%
6
15.40%
13
33.30%
7
17.90%
6
15.40%
2
5.10%
2
5.10%
39
100.00%

11.10%
6
22.20%
2
7.40%
4
14.80%
3
1 1.10%
3
11.10%
6
22.20%
27
100.00%

14.30%

8.10%'

1
50.00%

1
50.00%

2
100.00%

i

1
50.00%

2
28.60%
1
14.30%
2
28.60%
2
28.60%

1
14.30%
3
42.90%
2
28.60%

is!
1
100.00%

1
100.00%

1
50.00%
7
2
100.00% 100.00%

1
100.00%

7
100.00%

1
100.00%

57

17.40%’
19i
22.10%j
16=
18.60%!

16.30%)
61
7.00%
9
10.50%
86
100.00%

Table 34

Gender and distribution of respondents’ family incomes (Sidlaghatta)
Gender Less than 6001 - 12000 12001 - 24000 24001 - 30000 30001 and
Total
6000
above
7
41
Male
16
11
5U
125
12.80%
5.60%
32.80%
8.80%
40.00% 100.00%
$
24
44
Female
6.40%
19.20%
35.20%
15.20%
24.00% 100.00%
Total
15
40
85
30
SO
250
6.00%
16.00%
34.00%
12.00%
32.00% 100.00%
Table 34a
Gender-wise distribution of respondents’ family incomes (Hosahalli)

Income

Male

Female
Total

500110000

Less
than
5000
~~6~
8.9%
I5.3%

13
19.5%
:2:
10.5%
15
17.4%

~~T~
8.1%

1000115000

11
16.4%
8
42.1%
19
22.1%

1500120000

2000130000

13
10
19.4%
14.9%
3
4
15.8%
21.0%
“ 14
16
18.6%
16.3%
Table - 35

Total

30001

40001

40000
5
7.5%
1
5.3%
6
7.0%

above
9
13.4%

&

9
10.5%

67
100.0%
19
100.0%
55
100.0%

Income and Employment Status (Sidlaghatta)
Occupation
Reeling Owner
Reeling Owner labourer
Reeling Labourer

less than
6000

6001 12000

12001 24000

1
25.00%
5

1

4

10.90%
9
4.90%

2.20%
39
21.30%

8.70%
81
44.30%

15
6.00%

40
16.00%

85
34.00%

Grainage Labourer

Total

24001 30000

30001 and
above
3
75.00%
6
30

13.00%
23
12.60%
1
5.88%
30
12.00%

65.20%
31
16.90%
16
94.12%
80
32.00%

Total

4
100.00%
46
100.00%
183
100.00%
17
100.00%
250
100.00%

58

Table 36
Weekly Household Expenditure (Sidlaghatta).
( In rupees)
Christians Others Hindus)
Muslims
l SC & ST
Particulars
84
79
74
89
Rice
40
T5
24
63^“
Ragi
~
14
33
34
28
Pulses
29
30
27
25
Vegetables
84
73
55
58
Fish/Meat
—~
T9
22
TS
T7
Edible Oil
T7
32
24
15
Sugar/Jaggery
30
29
24
26
Transport
66
TO
17
32
Medicines
14
11
50
Entertainment
15
6
5
12
5
Paan/Tobacco
5?
42
34
29
Clothing
40
8
40
10
Liquor
4
12
2
Others
442
424
446
435
Weekly Expenditure
1864
1894
1847
Monthly Expenditure
1911
22371
Annual Expenditure
22937
22731
21805
Table 36a
Weekly Household Expenditure (Hosahalli)
(In Rupees)
Particulars
Madiga
ST
Lin gay Muslims Figala Brahm Ma div Other
ru
in
ala
Castes
ats
Shetti
“55“
ITU
““72
Rice
69
60
30
60
10
5
”
T
“
Ragi__________
67
34
“
23
87
T
50
“5T
Pulses
"38“
W
41
39
45
38
26
“47“
Vegetables
"50“
7U
35
49“
16
35
52
426
Fish/Meat
62
3U
74“
65
135
Edible Oil
“30“
30“
40
20
25
57
—21
23
"24"
Sugar/Jaggery
W
14
7
15“
45
43
Transport
“4T
148
45
30
35
17“
146
50
Medicines
“
40
“
30
“
13
21
32
25
Entertainment
“26“
6
15
9
11
“3“
Paan/Tobacco
6
1
3
I
3
Clothing
“
54"
23
10
38
“
66
52
“ 35
“76“
Weekly
399
466
517
272
580
““389
564
TZOexpenditure
Annual
20805
24299
14183 30243
26958
20284
29409
16686
Expenditure

59

Table - 37
Frequency of food intake across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Consumption of Food SC & ST

Muslim

Christian

Twice in a day

47
37.60%
75

1
100.00%

44
62.00%
27
38.00%
71
100.00%

Thrice in a day
Total

62.40%
125 —
1
100.00%
100.00%
Table - 37a

Other
(Hindu)
24
45.30%
29
54.70%
53
100.00%

Total

TT5
46.40%
134
53.60%
250
100.00%

Frequency of food intake across caste/religion (Hosahalli)
Consumption
of Food
Twice in a day

Thrice in a
day

Madiga

ST

9
23.10%
30

1
50.00%
1

Lingayats Muslims Tigalaru

4
14.80%
23

2

1
14.30%!
6

Brahmin Madivala
Shetti

1

Other
castes

7

Total

1

15
17.40%
71

76.90% 50.00% 85.20% 100.00% 85.70% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 82.60%
39
2
27
2
7
1
7
1
86
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00
%

Total

Table - 38

Gender, and number of daily meals (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Sidlaghatta
Hosahalli

Sidlaghatta

Hosahalli

Total

Gender Twice in a day| Thrice in a day
48
77
2
38.40%
61.60%
3.
TO
Q
57
14.90%
85.10%
58
57
CD
54.40%
45.60%
3
35
14
Q
26.30%
73.70%
131
205
38.99%
61.01%

Total
125
100.00%
67
100.00%

125
100.00%

re’
100.00%!
335
100.00%
60

Of the 125 male labourers, 62 per cent have three meals a day and the
/

)

remaining persons eat twice in a day. Of the women, 46 per cent have

three meals a day, and 54 per cent have two meals a day (Table 38).

Women appear to eat less in a day compared to the other members of the

family. Hosahalli respondents eat more often, and presumably their levels

of nutrition are better than in Sidlaghatta.

61

Chapter IV
Reeling and Grainage Activities, and Health

Part A

This section deals with the various health problems6 that labourers in our
sample have had in the past, or still have at present. Diseases such as

asthma, tuberculosis,

skin problems, stomach disorders, etc. have been

mentioned by the respondents (see tables 39,42,43 across technology,
caste and sex).

Respiratory problems such as asthma have, in many

cases, been causally related to reeling/grainages. This is being described
in greater detail in the clinical sections of this report (i.e. as occupational

asthma). The labourers involved in silk reeling, and especially the
I

labourers involved in charka reeling, appear to have marginally more

health problems than the rest (i.e. workers in cottage basin units, dupion

units)

This is not a conclusive statement.

Inasmuch as we could not

standardize or control for various variables, we cannot definitely state that
one technology is more or less harmful than another.

Overall, around 54

per cent of the labourers are suffering from one or the other health

Health problems’ in our study refer to a list of diseases, and/or disabilities, and
respondents were asked if they suffered from these diseases during the course of
the preceding year.
Healthy’
are those who do not have these
diseases/disabilities, and also includes those who may have had these at some
time and have recovered from them.

62

problem.

When we compared across gender, a greater proportion of

women appear to have health problems than males, constituting 56.7 per

cent (of women labourers) ,and

43.3 per cent (of male labourers)

respectively. Several reasons could be attributed for a larger proportion of
female labourers being afflicted with health problems. These include: a) If

we take just the women between the ages of
child bearing ages,
group.

16-40 as being within the

99 (79.2%) of our sample of women fall within this

Regular child bearing is a factor in their poorer health, b) their

work schedule is usually very strenuous, including both household chores,
as well as working in reeling units or grainages.

Rest, during the day, is

very difficult for them to get7, c) several cases in our sample have indicated

that when there is any food shortage in their homes (which is normal in
low income households), it is their husbands and children who have the

first choice of food. The women get less food, after the rest of the family
has eaten (see Table 38). The clinical section would also indicate results of

blood tests, which showed that a significant proportion of the sample of
women had anemia.

However, there were also women with asthma who

stated that if they eat a larger quantity of food, they felt a general

uneasiness, and therefore, preferred to eat less.
Y

The women themselves have not explicitly stated that they are over
worked. But from a detailed description of their daily activities, we can
state that the\ hardly have any time to relax, and leisure as such is not
available for any reasonable length of time.

63

Comparing the general health of the reeling and grainage workers with

the control group, a larger proportion of them have reported having health
problems than those in the control group.

We can hypothesize that

among sericulture activihes, and particularly reeling, there is a greater

possibility

that health problems are

more

frequent

than

in

other

occupations, such as agriculture.

Health status across ownership indicates that the owners of reeling units
(in our sample) do not have any disease. A possible reason could be that

they are not always directly involved in reeling, and do not remain within

the reeling unit’s premises for much time.

They supervise the reeling

activity from time to time, and their major activity is buying cocoons, and
selling silk yam, i.e. marketing.
U

On the other hand, a few among our

sample of owner-labourers have health problems, an indicabon, perhaps,

that being involved in the actual reeling activity would make them more

prone to health problems.

In the control sample, it is difficult to state that

one or the other occupational status is more likely to cause health
problems.

64

Chart 1: Health Status of Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli
responents
120.00%
100.00%

80.00%

i

. i Healthy

60.00%

L

I Having Disease

40.00%
.’

.r*i

Ji

20.00%

0.00%
Sidlaghatta
Male

Female

Hosahalli
Male

Female

Table 39

Health status and technology
Particulars
Healthy

Dupion
Silk Unit
18
14.80%

69.23%
Having
Disease

Total

6.00%
30.77%
^26*
10.40%,

Charaka
Cottage Basin | Grainage
Technology
Technology

Total

13.00%’

70.40%

8T

2
116
1.70% 100.00%

42.90%
20'

47.10%

-gy

11.80% 46.00%
134

14.90%
57.10%
35*
14.00%

67.90%
52.90%
~I72
68.80%

11.20% 100.00%
88.20% 53.60%
17
250
6.80% 100.00%

IsJ

rs

100.00%'
100.00%:
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%|
Pearson Chi~
'
13.859*
square
*Slgnificant at 5% Level
Association between technology' and health status.

65

Chart 2 : Health Status o f R e e 1 i n g and
G rain age R esp o n d e n t s
I 0 0.00 %
80.00%
60.00%

□ H e a 11 h y

40.00%

□ H avin g

20.00%

D ise a se

0.00 %

G ra in age

Reeling

Table 40

Health status and reeling technology

Health
Status
Healthy
Having
Disease

Dupion Silk
Charaka Cottage Basin
Unit
Technology Technology
18
15
8T
15.80%
13.20%
71.10%
•
8
20
9T

6.70%
16.80%
26 —
35
11.20%
15.00%
Pearson Chi-square
** Significant at 10% Level

Total

76.50%
T72
73.80%

N=233
Total

114
100.00%
TT9

100.00%
233
100.00%
"5.037**

There is an association between technology and health

66

Table 41
Family size and health status

Family
Size
1- 4

Having
Disease

Sidlaghatta
Healthy

89

Total

Having
Disease

Hosahalli
Healthy

Total

6?

151
8
3T
39
58.90% 41.10% 100.00%
20.50% 79.50% 100.00%
5- 7
45
4^
39
5
3$
45
44.90% 55.10% 100.00%
13.30% 86.70% 100.00%
8 & above
5
5
10
1
1
2
50.00% 50.00% 100.00%
50.00% 50.00% 100.00%
Total
T34
TT5
25(7
T5
7T
85
53.60% 46.40% 100.00%
17.40% 82.60% 100.00%
Pearson
4.465 Pearson
27255
Chi-square
_______________________ Chi-square
Sidlaghatta : There is no association between family size and health status
Hosahalli : There is no association between family size and health status

Although one may have expected that a larger family would

have more

problems in maintaining a reasonable level of health, since nutrition, and
other necessities of life would have to be shared among a larger number of

people, there is no statistical association between the size of families and
health.

67

Table 42

U

Health Status across different caste/religion groups (Sidlaghatta)
Health Status

SC & ST

Muslim

Healthy
24
33.80%

Having
Disease
47
66.20%

Total

71
100.00%|

55

53

T55

49.60%

50.40%

100.00%
29
54.71%

24
45.29%

100.00%
1
100.00%
53
100.00%

134
53.60%

250
100.00%

Christian
Other (Hindu)

Total

1 16

46.40%[
Table 42a

Health Status across different caste/religion groups (Hosahalli)

Health Status Madiga
Healthy

Having
Disease
Total

ST

Lingayats Muslims Tigalaru Brahmin Madivala
Other
Shetti
castes
33
2
18
2
7
7
84.60% 100.00% 66.70%, 100.00% 100.00%
100.00% 100.00%
6
9
1

r

12.80%
33.30%
100.00%
39
2
27
2
7
1
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Total

70
81.40%,
16

17.40%
7
1
86
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

■J

68

Table 43

Gender and Health Status (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)

Gender

Healthy

Having
Disease

Total

Sidlaghatta

67
58
125
53.6%
46.40%,
100.00%
Hosahalli
54 ~'
13
67
80.60%
19.40%
100.00%
Sidlaghatta
49
76
125
Q
39.20%
60.80%
100.00%
3
Hosahalli
17
2
T9
Q
89.50%
10.50%
100.00%
Total
187
149
336
55.65%
_________
44.35%
100.00%
Sidlaghatta Pearson Chi-Square value
5.211* I
Hosahalli Pearson chi-square value
0.810
*Significant at 5% level
=
—- -----------1
Sidlaghatta - Association between gender and health status
Hosahalli - No Association between gender and health status
Table 44
Education and Health Status (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)
Sample
Health
Illiterate Less than Primary Middle
High
PUC Diplom
Any
Total
Status
4 years
School
a
Degree
Sidlaghatta Healthy
65
2
11
15
2T
1
T
116
56.00%
1.70%
9.50% 12.90%
18.10%' 0.90%
0.90% 100.00%
Hosahalli Healthy
34
2
5
7
F5
4
1
2
71
47.90%
2.80% 8.50% 9.90% 21.10% 5.60% 1.40%
2.80% 100.00%
Sidlaghatta Having
93
2
9
16
12
2
134
Disease

2
£
o

69.40%
Hosahalli

Having
Disease

6

1.50%

6.70%

11.90%

9.00%

1.50%

1

4

1

1

4Q.0Q%|
6.70% 26.70%
Total
198
6 ____ 27
42
___________ _________ 58.93%
1.79%] 8.03% 12.50%
Sidlaghatta Pearson Chi-square value
Hosahalli Pearson Chi-square value

6.70% 6.70%|
49
8
14.58% 2.38%

100.00%

2

15

13.30% 100.00%
1 ______ 5
336
0.30
1.49% 100.00%

Sidlaghatta: There is no association between education and health status
Hosahalli : There is no association between education and health status

69

7/726
7/242

Table 45
Occupation and health status (Sidlaghatta)

Occupation
Reeling owner
Reeling Owner labourer

Reeling labourers
Grainage Labourer

Healthy

Having
Disease

4
100.0%
33
71.73%
77
42.07%
2
12.5%

Total
4
100.0%
45
100.0%
183
100.0%
16
100.0%

13
28.27%
106
57.93%
14"
87.5%

LSP Owner

r

T

Total

116
46.4.0%

100.0%
134
53.6.0%

100.0%
250"
100.0%

Pearson Chi-square
value
* Significant at 5% Level

26.131*

There is an association between occupation and health status.

Table 45a
Occupation and health status (Hosahalli)
Occupation
Agriculturist

Owner Cultivator
Agricultural Labourer

Total

Healthy

6
50.00%

35
86.50%
20
90.90%
71
82.56%

Having
Disease
6
50.00%
7
13.50%
2
9.10%
15
17.44%

Total
12
100.00%

52
100.00%
22
100.00%
86
100.00%

70

Of the 134 persons with health problems (table 47) about 89 per cent of

them are above 16 years of age.

This could indicate that serious health

problems

after

afflict

reeling/grainages.

workers

only

several

years

of

working in

One may also observe that our sample of grainage

workers are not likely to have got their job at a very young age.

Reeling

workers on the other hand joined as child labourers in many cases.
Further, several women in our sample observed that their health problems

started after their marriage. This involved, a) in a few cases, they had
migrated from their native place to Sidlaghatta, and started work in

reeling,

b) frequent child bearing exacerbated health problems, c)

little

help from their husbands or other males in their families, made it
necessary for women to continue working even when they

had health

problems. Only when the intensity of health problems increased to a very

high extent that they could not work, did they stay at home and away from

reeling,

d) Health problems, in more cases, do not begin soon after a

person takes up work in a reeling unit, but usually after a few years.

71

I

Technology’

Grainage

Table 46
Health Status across different age groups of Reeling and Grainage respondents
Health Status 11-15 16-20 21-25
26 - 30
31 -35
36 -40
41 &
Total
above

Healthy

2
2
100.00% 100.00%

Having Disease

1
6.70%

lothl

Reeling

Healthy

Having Disease

Total
Grainage

Reeling

4
3.50%
11
9.20%
15
6.40%

20
17.70%
10

36
31.90%
19

8.40%
30
12.90%

16.00%
55
23.60%

1
5.90%
16
14.20%
26

21.80%!
42
18.00%

2
13.30%
2
11.80%
16
13.30%
20
16.80%!
36
15.50%

2
13.30%

11.80%
9
8.00%
14
11.80%
23
9.90%

10
15
66.70% 100.00%
—-l2 —
70.60% 100.00%
13
113
11.50% 100.00%
19
1 19
16.00%| 100.00%
32
233
13.70% 100.00%

Pearson Chisquare
Pearson Chisquare
Grainage :: No association between health status and
age group
Reeling :: Association between health status and age group

0.944

16.79

Table 47
Health status across Age Groups (Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli)
Sample
Health 11-15
16-20
“
21-25
26-30
31-35 36-40
41 &
Total
Status
above
Sidlaghatta
4
20
36
16
I
16
9
15
116
ro
3.40%
17.20%
31.00%
13.80%, 13.80% 7.80% 12.90% 100.00%
HL
Hosahalli
13
12
7
13
26
71
18.30% 16.90% 9.90% 18.30% 36.60% 100.00%
Sidlaghatta
11
10
19
27
22
16
S X
29
134
wQ
8.20% 7.50% 14.20% 20.10% 16.40% 11.90%
21.60%
100.00%
0)
Hosahalli
OT
1
2
1
O era
3
8
15
6.70%
13.30% 6.70% 20,00%
53.30%
100.00%
Total
15
31
68
57
46
41
78
336
_________
4,46
9.23
20.24
16.97
13.69
12.20
23.21
100.00%
Sidlaghatta Pearson chi-square
20.842
Hosahalli
Pearson Chi-square
8.606
~~
Sidlaghatta: There
is an association between Age Group and Health status
Hosahalli : There is no association between Age Group and Health Status

I

72

Table 48

Duration of job and health status of Sidlaghatta and Hosahalli
Respondents

Duration of Job

Sidlaghatta
Hosahalli
Having
Total
Healthy Having
Total
Disease
Disease
T”
Less than 1 year
8
6
14
2
3
57.10% 42.90% 100.00% 66.70% 33.30% 100.00%
1-5 year
22
26)
48
9
9
45.80% 54.20%; 100.00% 100.00%
100.00%
6-10 yea
3T
34
65
7
1
8
47.70% 52.30% 100.00% 87.50% 12.50% 100.00%
10-20 years
48
41
89
32
S
37
53.90% 46.10% 100.00% 86.50% 13.50% 100.00%
20 & above
7
27
34
2T
B
29
20.60% 79.40% 100.00% 72.40% 27.60% 100.00%
Total
TT6
134
250
7T
15
86
46.40% 53.60% 100.00% 82.60% 17.40% 100.00%
Pearson Chi11.838* Pearson
5.032
square
chi____________________________________________ square
Sidlaghatta: Association between duration of job and health status
Hosahalli : No Association between duration of job and health status

Healthy

As may be expected, we have also observed that an association exists
between the number of years in reeling/grainages, and the existence of

health problems.

Health problems, particularly asthma, often take years

to manifest themselves, and this may account for the fact that, generally,

the

people

who

had

worked

for

a

greater

number

of years

in

reeling/grainages, suffer more health problems.

73

Table 49
Number of days worked in a year and health status

No.of days

0

150-200
days
201-250
days
251-300
days
300 &
above

None

G. Hosahalli
Sidlaghatta
Total
Total Having Healthy
Having Healthy
Disease
Disease
4
1
1
4
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
8
40
48
49
24
25

49.00% 51.00% 100.00%
104
54
50

83.30% 100.00%
4
4

100.00% 100.00%
3
3

48.10% 51.90% 100.00%
T3
43
30
69.80% 30.20% 100.00%
44
24
20

5

100.00% 100.00%
2T
26

54.50% 45.50% 100.00%
2
3
5
40.00% 60.00% 100.00%

19.20%
2
50.00%

80.80% 100.00%
4
2
50.00% 100.00%

15
17.40%

71
86
82.60% 100.00%

Pearson
chisquare

4.713

T

90 days

Total

16.70%

r

100.00% 100.00%
134
116
250
53.60% 46.40% 100.00%

Pearson
chi-square

11.221**

** Significant at 10% level
Sidlaghatta : Association between number of days worked in a year and
health status
Hosahalli : No association between Number of days worked in a year and
Health status

While we have already indicated that the number of days in a year that a

respondent has worked in reeling is not absolutely certain, even with its

74

limitations, there is a clear association between the number of days

worked in reeling and health problems.

Table 50
Joining age and health status of respondents

i )

Joining Age

Gender

Male

6-10 years

Healthy

Having
Disease
13
12
19.70% 20.70%

Total
25
20.00%

11-15 years

23
21
44
34.80% 36.20%
35.20%
16 & above
3T
25
56
45.50% 43.10%
44.80%
Total
67
5S"
T25
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Female
6-10 years
13
T3
55
26.50% 17.10%
20.80%
11-15 years
13
19
32
26.50% 25.00%
25.60%
16 & above
23
44
67
46.90% 57.90%
53.60%
Total
49
7$
125
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Pearson Chi square value Male
0.126
Female
1.967
Male: No association between joining age and health status
Female: No association between joining age and health status.

j

While

it

is

known

that

smoking

(beedis,

cigarettes)

and

alcohol

consumption are harmful to health, we were also concerned about their
effect on reeling and grainage workers. Smoking is also known to aggravate

respiratory problems such as asthma. Just about 16 per cent including

75

men and women, of the

workers have admitted to being regular

consumers of alcohol. No health problem has, in this study, been observed

as being directly related to alcohol consumption, but there is sufficient
evidence elsewhere to suggest that regular consumption of alcohol has
adverse effect on a person’s health. Only a longer term study using several

clinical parameters would be able to confirm the adverse effect of alcohol in

conjunction with reeling or working in grainages (Table 52).

Table 51
House type (economic condition) and health status
Particulars

Healthy

Total

Kaccha

6T
52.2%
5K

Having
Disease
S3
61.9%
IT

Semi-Pucca

78.90%
47
40.9%

73.30%
44
32.8%

TT

2

16.90%
8
7.0%

13.30%
7
5.2%

77.90%
9T
36.4%
14
16.30%
15
6.0%

S'

J

5

Sidlaghatta
Hosahalli

Sidlaghatta

Hosahalli
Sidlaghatta
Hosahalli

Pucca

144
57.6%
57

4.20%
13.30%
5.80%
Total
187
149"
33T
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
Sidlaghatta
Pearson Chi- square
“2.242
Hosahalli
Pearson Chi-square
1.913
Sidlaghatta -No association between type of house and health status.
Hosahalli -No association between type of house and health status.

76

Table-52

Health Status and alcohol consumption/smoking (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars

Healthy

Consuming Alcohol

17
43.60%
37|
56.92%
Table-52 a

Smoker

Having
Disease
22
56.40%
28
43.07%

Total
39
1QQ.QQ%
65
100.00%

Health Status and alcohol consumption/smoking (Hosahalli)

Particulars

Consuming
Alcohol
Smoker

Healthy

Having
Disease
13
2
86.70% 13.30%
27
8
77.10% 22.90%

Total
15
100.0%
35
100.0%

While the clinical section would indicate, from objective indices, the
probable causes of health problems, in this section we have indicated the

subjective perceptions of the reeling and grainage workers themselves,
about the causes of their health problems. The largest number of persons
said that smoke

from boiling cocoons is the main reason for getting

respiratory problems (Table - 54 & 55). Their 'solution’ to this problem is

that new reeling technology should be introduced which reduced the
smoke which is emitted within the units.

Earlier, there was only charka

technology’ available, w’here reeling labourers were directly cooking the

cocoons, and which made them inhale the smoke. Workers stated that in
77

the present charka reeling they face the same problems as those working
with this technology in the past.

Also, since they have to regularly dip

their hands in boiling water while reeling the silk yam, skin diseases also
were high among these workers. With cottage basins now being available,

cocoons are cooked in one place and reeling is done at a distance from the
cooking process. This has helped in reducing problems. Those who were
working in dupion and charka technology and have shifted over to cottage
basin reeling have particularly remarked on this aspect.

Labourers are

aware that health problems of various kinds have been associated with

working in reeling units. They are also under the belief that cottage basin

units are less harmful to them. However, one has to consider the environs
of these two types of technology. In our sample, the owner-labourers have

small scale charka units, and where they are themselves engaged in
reeling. In this set up they are also the victims of the technology involved in
reeling.

Being

relatively poor, the conditions of work include poor

ventilation, filthy surroundings,

poor lighting, and poor drainage. Thus,

the conditions conducive to encourage health problems are already clearly

visible in these units.

Cottage

basin

technology usually involves

substantially higher investments than charkas, and as such are set up by
relatively more affluent owners. These owners are also able to provide
relatively better working conditions than that found in charka units. Thus,

while respiratory’ problems are clearly evident in both

types of units,

78

workers are convinced that they suffer from less health problems, or
lower intensity respiratory problems in cottage basin units, than when they
were working in charka units.
Table 53
Prevalence of diseases and gender (Sidlaghatta)*
Name of the Disease
Male
Female
Asthma
Backache
Blood Pressure
Cough
~
Diabetes
Eye Problems
Headache
Increase in body heat
Skin Problem
Stomach Disorders
Tuberculosis

30.4%
T2.8%
6.4%
36.0%
1.6%
8.8%
16.0%
28.0%
7.2%
12.8%
2.4%

46.4%
25.6%
0.8%
57.6%
THI
17.6%
29.6%
27.2%
18.4%
19.2%
4.0%

Total Respondents
125
125
*As respondents^ reported several health problems being 'present at the
same time, the total percentage does not end as 250 tallying with 100%.
Table 53a
Prevalence of diseases and gender (Hosahalli)
Name of the Disease
Male
Female

Asthma
Backache
Blood Pressure
Cough
Diabetes
Eye Problems
I Icadachc
Increase in body heat
Skin Problem
Stomach Disorders
Tuberculosis

11.9%
4.5%
1.5%
16.4%
3.0%
3.0%
1.5%
1.5%
Nil
9.0%
Nil

21.1%
21.1%
5.3%
36.8%
Nil
5.3%
5.3%
Nil
Nil
Nil
5.3%

Total Respondents

67

19

79

The health problems indicated by reeling and grainage workers is
generally higher than in the control group. However, it is not immediately

known which can be causally related to their occupation—other than the

details provided in the clinical section of this chapter.
Table - 54
Workers’ reasons for diseases across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)

Particulars

SC & ST

Muslim

Work Atmosphere

3
•4.20%

Smoke of boiling
cocoon

57

Dipping fingers
frequently into hot
water while reeling
Over burdened with
work

5
4.00%
F04

73.20%

r

83.20%
3

1.40%

2.40%

Other
(Hindu)

Christian

8
3.20%

1

30

137

100.00%

56.60%
6

74.80%
10

11.30%
1

4.00%
2

1.90%

0.80%
2
0.80%

1

1

1.90%
3
5.70%

0.40%
TO
4.00%
2T
8.40%

T
1.40%

Lack of rest

T
1.40%

1
0.80%

Lack of drainage
system
Oven heat

5

7.00%
Others

Formalin Smell

5
8.50%
2
2.80%

2
1.60%
10
8.00%

5

NA
Total

71
100.00%

Total

125
100.00%

1
100.00%

9.40%
3
5.70%
4
7.50%
53
100.00%

*“5

2.00%
4
1.60%
250
100.00%

80

Table - 54a
Workers* reasons for diseases across caste/religion (Hosahalli)
Particulars | Madiga
ST
I Lingayats Muslims ; Tigalaru | Brahmin Madivala
Other
i
Shetti
castes
Work
1
3
Atmosphere
2.60%
1 1.10%.
Overburdened
25
2
14
5
1
3
1
with work

I

Lack of rest
Lack of
Drainage
System
Others

NA
Total

64.10% 100.00%
6
15.40%
1

2.60%
4
10.30%
2
5.10%
39
2
100.00% 100.00%

51.90%
6
2
22.20% 100.00%

42.90%

100.00%

1
3.70%
3
11.10%
27
2
7
1
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

3
42.90%
1
14.30%
7
100.00%|

1.20%
8
9.30%
6
7.00%
1
86
100.00% 100.00%

_________ Particulars
Work Atmosphere

Smoke from boiling cocoons
Dipping fingers frequency
into hot water while reeling

Male

Lack of rest
Lack of drainage system

Formalin Smell
NA

Total

Female

Total

1
0.80%
94
75.20%
6

7
5.60%
93
74.40%
4

8
3.20%
187
74.80%
10

4.80%

3.20%|
2
1.60%
1
0.80%

4.00%
2
0.80%
2
0.80%
1
0.40%
10
4.00%
21
8.40%
5
2.00%
4
1.60%
250
100.00%

Over burdened with work

Others

4
4.70%
51

71.40% 100.00%
2
28.60%

Table -55
______ Respondents* Reasons for Disease (Sidlaghatta)

Oven heat

Total

1
0.80%
1
0.80%
2
1.60%
14
11.20%
3
2.40%
3
2.40%
125 ‘
100.00%

8
6.40%
7
5.60%
2
1.60%
1
0.80%
125
100.00%

81

59.30%
16
18.60%
1

Table -55a

Respondents’ Reasons for Disease (Hosahalli)
Particulars

,)

Male

Work
Atmosphere
Over burdened With work
Lack of rest

Lack of drainage Facilities
Others
NA

Total

A
■U

simple

design

for

4
6.00%
38
56.70%
13
19.40%
1
1.50%
6
9.00%
5
7.50%
67
100.00%

improving

the

Total

Female

13
68.40%
3
15.80%

2
10.50%
1
5.30%
19
100.00%

unit’s

4
4.70%
51
59.30%
16
18.60%
1
1.20%
8
9.30%
6
7.00%
86
100.00%

environment,

reduce

steam/smoke from the unit, was provided by T.S. Nagaraj (Technical
Adviser, Seri-2000). A reeler who has used the design and equipment for

about three months is convinced about its usefulness in reducing the
smoke in the unit, and labourers too seem to agree with this view.

However, labourers found it somewhat inconvenient as well, since the
equipment

hit their foreheads.

Mr. Nagaraj considered this a small

problem, and easily rectified.

Another problem

water entered the cooking pot.

The original cost of the instrument was

was that during rain,

about Rs.8,000/- and Nagaraj says it can be reduced to Rs.2,000. But as
of now, it can be used only in cottage basin reeling technology and not in

charka reeling units.

82

Exhaust
Fan

i-=0=

(

Chute or
Hood

Sericin

Fumes

Cocoon Cooking
Oven around
which the workers
stand and cook
cocoons.

I

Medication:

Through this study, reeling and grainage workers were asked about the
type of medication they use whenever they had any health problems, and
also the 'medical’ practitioner that they consulted. In this connection, we
asked about the use of allopathic medicine, ayurvedic medicine, and "folk

medicine.”

Folk medicine was broadly considered as any advise given by

non-trained local persons about the use of local concoctions of some kind,

which are presumed to have a beneficial effect on people with health

problems.

Reeling and grainage workers, by and large (about 80 per cent

of them), used mainly allopathic medicine, and they were less satisfied with

83

the efficacy of other types of medicine, though they took these “remedies”
from time to time, too.

The general preference for steroid based drugs

among the more severe cases of asthma is due to several reasons:

a)

doctors prescribe these medicines for a fixed period, but patients take
them for long, and indefinite periods without medical supervision, on the
assumption that as long as they provide relief they can carry on with these
drugs, b) steroid based drugs are said to have an immediate and salutary

effect on the patient, and they believe they can take the tablet whenever
i

they feel particularly indisposed. Because of the medication they took in
these conditions (i.e. when they had acute symptoms of respiratory
problems), some semblance of normalcy was restored in a short while, and

they were able to go for work. Missing work (particularly with the women)

was not considered a viable option since they needed the wages to support
their family.

Persons using medicine which they considered as “ayurvedic” constitute

about 6 per cent (Table-60) of the total respondents. Haseena (16 years)

was using 'green tablets’ for the past six months to control asthma. She
had felt some relief, but that was only a temporary phenomenon.

Muniyamma who is 52 years old has been using 'herbal powder’ prepared

from some leaves and roots brought from Chintamani of Kolar district of
Karnataka state.

She stated that with this medicine, she could carry out

84

her daily business.

Subbaramaiah (40 years of age) who was using

allopathic medicines was not satisfied with that medication, and started

taking Tish medicine* (including live fish). He claimed that with this
“medicine” his cough has come down drastically.

He had been using it for

six months and plans to continue to use it for another six months.

hopes for a permanent cure with this medicine.

He

Some others had had

poor experience with “ayurvedic medicine” such as one, a woman of 32

years, who used some powder and liquid “medicine” for about six months.
She had some allergic reactions on her skin, and even her respiratory
problem became worse. Finding

that the sought for “cure” was not

forthcoming with “ayurvedic” medicine, many of the respondents reverted

to allopathic medicine, which they felt gave them “instant relief.”
Table 56

Using of folk remedies and health status

Sidlaghatta
Folk
Remedies

No

Having
Disease
39
47.60%
95
56.50%
134
53.60%

Healthy
43
52.40%
73
43.50%
116
46.40%

Hosahalli
Total

Having
Disease

Healthy

82
7
36
100.00%
16.30%
83.70%
Yes
168
8
35
100.00%
18.60%
81.40%
Total
250
15
71
100.00%
17.40%
82.60%
Pearson chi1.789 Pearson chi_____ square
square
Sidlaghatta : No association between using folk remedies and health.
Hosahalli
: No association between using folk remedies and health

Total

43
100.00%
43
100.00%
86
100.00%
0.081

8

'Fish medicine’ is an ayurvedic medicine which is put inside the mouth of
a small, live fish. The patient has to swallow the fish, and the medicine.

85

Table 57
Types of medicines used
Medicines
useful in the
long run
Allopathic
)

Sidlaghatta
Healthy

Total

84
41.80%

201
100.00%

9

20

29

31.00%

69.00%

100.00%

Having
Disease
TT7
58.20%

Folk
medicine

None
Total

8"

rs

40.00%

60.00%

100.00%

134
53.60%

116
46.40%

250
100.00%
9.142*

20

Having
Disease

Hosahalli
Healthy

Total

IT

38
49
22.40% 77.60% 100.00%
1

TK

17

5.60% 94.40% 100.00%
J
1^
19
15.80% 84.20% 100.00%
15
71
86
17.40% 82.60% 100.00%
Pearson
2.655
chi-square

Pearson Chisquare value
* Significant at 5% Level.
Sidlaghatta : Association between Medicines useful in the long run and health status.
Hosahalli : No Association between Medicines useful in the long run and health
status.
Table 58

Number of visits to doctor in the past year
Number of visits to
Doctor
Once in a Week
Once in Fortnight

Once in a Month
Once in a Year
Once in a Quarter

Not Visited

Total

Having
Disease
18
85.70%
20
80.00%
40
64.50%
2
25.00%
47
46.10%
7
21.90%
134
53.60%

Sidlaghatta
Healthy

•Total

3
14.30%
5
20.00%
22
35.50%
6
75.00%
55
53.90%
25
78.10%
116
46.40%

21
100.00%
25
100.00%
62
100.00%
8
100.00%
102
100.00%
32
100.00%
250
100.00%

Having
Disease

2
66.70%
3
42.90%

9
23.70%
1
3.60%
15
17.40%

Hosahalli
Healthy
1
100.00%
1
33.30%
4
57.10%
9
100.00%
29
76.30%
27
96.40%
71
82.60%

Total
1
100.00%
3
100.00%
7
100.00%
9
100.00%
38
100.00%
28
100.00%
86
100.00%

86

Table 59

Frequency of meals

Frequency Having
of meals
Disease
57
Thrice in a
day
50.00%
Twice in a
day

Total

Sidlaghatta
Healthy

Total

Having
Disease

Hosahalli
Healthy

Total

134

TO

61

71

50.00% 100.00%

14.10%

85.90%

100.00%

116

5

TO

15

57.80%

42.20% 100.00%

33.30%

66.70%

100.00%

134
53.60%

116
250
46.40% 100.00%

TO

71
82.60%

SO

17.40%

67

49

67

100.00%

Pearson
1.505 Pearson
3.186**
Chi-square
Chi-square
** Significant at 10% level
Sidlaghatta : There is no association between frequency of food intake
and health status
Hosahalli : There is an association between frequency of food intake
and health status.

Table 60
Types of medicines used by respondents (Sidlaghatta)

Particulars
Ayurvedic

None
Total

SC & ST
4
5.60%
67
94.40%

7T
100.00%

Muslim
6
4.80%
119
95.20%
T25
100.00%

Christian

Other
(Hindu)

1
100.00%

T
100.00%

6
11.30%
47
88.70%
53
100.00%

Total
16
6.40%
234
93.60%
250
100.00%

87

Table-60a

Types of medicines used by respondents (Hosahalli)
Particulars

Madiga

Ayurvedic

1
3.70%
39
2
26
2
7
1
7
1
100.00% 100.00% 96.30% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
39
2
27
2
7
1
7
1
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

None
Total

ST

Lingayats Muslims Tigalaru

Brahmin Madivala
Shetti

Other
castes

Total
1
1.20%
85
98.80%
86
100.00%

Many respondents (see tables 61 and 62) constituting about 67 per cent of

the sample use local remedies on the belief that they can be benefited from
using them (some were consumed; while others need external application ).
Those items being used include tender coconuts, butter milk, neem leaves,

alcohol for asthma, ragi flour, caster leaf,

green gram, pork, buttermilk,

banana, ragimalt, cowdung to reduce body temperature. Sidlaghatta

labourers used sapat mulam (for blisters and other skin problems), eye
ointment, and tamarind pulp whenever they felt the need .

These

measures were said to provide temporary relief and therefore they used
them.

Alcohol consumption was frequently stated to provide relief from

respiratory problems, and enabled sound sleep at night. Men and women

consumed alcohol for this purpose9.

9

In the presence of a local physician, a reeling labourer stated that he
had stopped drinking alcohol on this doctor’s advise, and now his health
problems had greatly increased.

88

Table - 61

Respondents’ use of folk remedies (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars SC & ST

Muslim |Christian

Yes

83
29
T58
66.40%
54.70% 67.20%
42
1
24
82
33.60% 100.00% 45.30% 32.80%
T23
"T
53
250
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

78.90%

To

No

Total

21.10%
71
100.00%

Other

Total

Table 62

Respondents’ use of folk remedies (Sidlaghatta)

Use Folk Remedies
Yes

No
Total

Male

Female

77
61.60%
43
38.40%
125
100.00%

9T
72.80%
34
27.20%
125
100.00%

Total
168
67.20%

35
32.80%
250
100.00%

A woman respondent (52 years, grainage worker) uses ragi flour with
castor leaf to reduce body temperature. She applies ragi flour to her legs,

hands and

stomach and at the same time uses castor oil

and covered

with caster leaf. Another woman (60 years) prepares ragimalt at night, and
mixes it with onion in the morning, and

then drinks it.

Jayamma (25

years) applies cowdung to her hands and feet (for skin problems) leaves it

89

on for about two hours, and then washes it off later^o. Various measures

are tried on one after the other, and whenever they think one of these
measures works, they stick with it, and drop the others. However, over a

period of time, allopathic medicine is preferred, as more labourers find
them relatively effective. (Tables 63 & 64).

Table 63
Types of medicines used by respondents (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars

SC & ST

Allopathic

Total

Christian

1
100.00%

Other
(Hindu)
40
75.50%

5

9

59

6.40%

1
100.00%

17.00%
4
7.50%
53
100.00%

11.60%
20
8.00%
250
100.00%

52
73.20%

108
86.40%

T2

16.90%
7
9.90%
71
100.00%

Folk medicine
None

Muslim

9
7.20%
T25
100.00%

Total
201
80.40%

Table 63 a
Types of medicines used by respondents (Hosahalli)
Particulars

Allopathic

Folk
medicine
None

Total

Madiga

ST

Lingayats Muslims

Tigalaru

24
61.50%
8

1
50.00%

16
2
59.30% 100.00%
2

3
42.90%
4

20.50% 50.00%
7.40%
7
9
17.90%
33.30%
39
2
27
2
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

57.10%

1

100.00%

Brahmin

1
100.00%
1
100.00%

Madivala
Shetti
3
42.90%
3

Other
castes

Total

49
57.00%
18

42.90%
1
1
14.30% 100.00%!

r

100.00%

100.00%

10

There is a general lack of awareness regarding cowdung—and the possibility that open
cuts on their hands and feet could easily lead to infections when cow dung is rubbed on.

90

20.90%
19
22.10%
86
100.00%

Table 64
Use of medicines by men and women (Sidlaghatta)

Particulars

Allopathic
Folk medicine

None
Total

Male

Female

95
76.00%
T7
13.60%
13
10.40%
125
100.00%

T0^

20T

84.80%
12
9.60%
7
5.60%
125
100.00%

80.40%
29
11.60%
20
8.00%
250
100.00%

Total

Table 64 a
Use of medicines by men and women (Hosahalli)
Particulars
Allopathic

Male
39
58.20%
14

Folk
medicine

None
Total

Female
TO
52.60%
4

Total

49
57.00%
18

20.90%
21.10% 20.90%
5“
T4
19
20.90%
26.30% 22.10%
67
19
86
100.00%| 100,00% 100.00%

Around 32 per cent (Tables 65 & 66) of the labourers, and irrespective of
the disease (as all the labourers suffer from one or the other disease in a

year) medicate themselves from time to time. There are instances of
negative side effects when they have gone in for self medication. According

to our data, men are more prone to this practice than women.

However,

after encountering these side effects, most of these respondents have

stopped medicating themselves.

91

Table 65
Prevalence of Self Medication across Caste/Religion (Sidlaghatta)
Self Medication

SC & ST

Muslim

Christian

Yes

24
33.80%
47
66.20%
7T
100.00%

32
25.60%
93
74.40%
125
100.00%

1
100.00%

No
Total

1
100.00%

Other
(Hindu)
23
43.40%
30
56.60%
53
100.00%

Total

80
32.00%
170
68.00%
250
100.00%

Table 65a
Prevalence of self medication across caste/religion (Hosahalli)
Self
Medication
Yes
No
Total

Madiga

ST

Lingayats Muslims

Tigalaru

4
3
3
10.30%
11.10%
42.90%
24
35
2
2
4
89.70% 100.00% 88.90% 100.00% 57.10%
39
2
27
7
2
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Madivala
Other
Total
Shetti
castes
3
13
42.90%
15.10%
4
1
1
73
100.00%
57.10% 100.00%, 84.90%
1
7
1
86
100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Bi ahimn

Table 66
Self medication and gender (Sidlaghatta)

Self Medication
Yes
No

Total

Male
48
38.40%
77
61.60%
125
100.00%

Female
32
25.60%
93
74.40%

nn

100.00%

Total

80
32.00%
170
68.00%
250
100.00%

92

Table 66 a

Self Medication and gender (Hosahalli)

Particulars
Yes
No

Male

7

Female

FT

16.40%
3b
83.60%
Total
67
100.00%

Total
2
13
10.50%
15.10%
T7
73
89.50% 84.90%
19
86
100.00% 100.00%

Labourers were asked about their visits to local doctors. Their frequency of

visits to physicians is indicated in Tables 67 and 68. The reluctance to pay

any fee to the doctors is an important reason for avoiding doctors, and
)

another reason is that they cannot take time off too often to meet doctors,

unless the problem is really acute.

It is usually respondents of higher

incomes who visit the doctor more often, as they have a sufficiently high
income to pay the fee and also buy medicines. If at all they visit a doctor,

most of the respondents remarked that they meet a government doctor as
it is cheaper. Though the government doctor takes Rs.5/- per patient (not

legal) it is still cheaper than a private doctor, and they get a prescription as
well as occasional free medicines.

93

Table 67
Number of visits to doctor, across caste/religion (Sidlaghatta)
Particulars

SC & ST

Once in a week

10
14.10%
6
8.50%
19
26.80%

Once in fortnight

Once in a month

Muslim

Once in a year
Once in a quarter

Not visited
Total

28
39.40%
8
11.30%
71
100.00%

Christian

9
7.20%
18
14.40%
28
22.40%
4
3.20%
53
42.40%
13
10.40%
125
100.00%

Other
(Hindu)

1
100.00%

1
100.00%

Total

2
3.80%
1
1.90%
15
28.30%
4
7.50%
20
37.70%
11
20.80%
53
100.00%

21
8.40%
25
10.00%
62
24.80%
8
3.20%
102
40.80%
32
12.80%
250
100.00%

Table 67 a
Number of visits to doctor, across caste/Religion (Hosahalli)
Particulars

Madiga

ST

Once in a week
Once in
Fortnight
Once in
a month
Once in a year
Once in a
Quarter
Not visited
Total

2
5.10%
3
7.70%
6
15.40%
16
2
41.00% 100.00%

Lingayats Muslims

1
3.70%
1
3.70%
3
11.10%
2
7.40%
13
48.10%

12
71
30.80%
25.90%
39
2
27
100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Tigalaru

Brahmin

Madivala
Shetti

Other
castes

1
100.00%

2
100.00%

1
14.30%
2
28.60%

2
1
28.60% 100.00

2
100.00%

4
57.10%
7
1
100.00% 100.00%

5
71.40%
7
1
100.00% 100.00

Total
1
1.20%
3
3.50%
7
8.10%
9
10.50%
38
44.20%

%

%

94

28
32.60%
86
100.00%

Table 68
Respondents’ visits to doctors (Sidlaghatta)

Particulars
Once in a week

Once in a month
Once in a year

Once in a quarter

Total

| Female

I

Total

T5

2T

6.40% 10.40%
13’
10.40%
9.60%
33’
29
26.40% 23.20%
4’
4
3.20%
3.20%
52'
50
41.60% 40.00%
T5'
17
12.00% 13.60%
125 ’
125
100.00% 100.00%

8.40%
25
10.00%
62
24.80%
S
3.20%
102
40.80%
32
12.80%
250
100.00%

rz

Once in fortnight

Not visited

Male

Table 68 a

Respondents’ visits to doctors (Hosahalli)

Particulars
Once in a
week
Once in
Fortnight
Once in a
Month
Once in a year
S
Once in a
Quarter
Not visited

Total

Male

r

1.50%
2
3.00%
6
9.00%

5

Female

Total

1

1
5.30%
1
5.30%
4
21.10%

7.50%
29
9
43.30% 47.40%
24
4
35.80% 21.10%
57
T9
100.00% 100.00%

1.20%
3
3.50%
7
8.10%
9
10.50%
38
44.20%
32.60%

85
100.00%

95

Considering their frequent health problems, labourers

thought that a

regular visit from a doctor would be greatly in their interest. Of the 250

respondents, around 91 per cent of them said they needed a doctors visit

to the place where they stayed.
t

Almost 87 per cent of the labourers are also ready to pay a nominal fee
for the doctor’s service, rather than availing of free medical advise.

96

Part B

Clinical

Medical report of the silk workers study done with Dr. Anand Inbanathan
of ISEC, Bangalore by Dr.Om Prakash, consultant chest physician and
Head, department of Medicine, St. Martha’s Hospital, Bangalore.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that people involved in

sericulture are at increased risk to develop asthma, due to occupational
exposure to silk antigens. The prevalence has been estimated at about
14 per cent. In this study, the aim was to focus attention on a group of

sericulture workers with occupational asthma and see their disease in

perspective of severity, functional deficit, drug requirement, drug side

effects if any and the reasons for nonoptimal management of the
disease in the community.

Further, an attempt has been made to

suggest remedial measures based on the observations.

A group of

control subjects has also been studied to allow comparisons between
the groups.
> Methodology:
During the Sociological component of the study a questionnaire was
provided to elicit presence of asthma using the International Union

against Tuberculosis and Lung diseases questionnaire, slightly modified
to suit the purpose of this study. The reliability of this questionnaire

97

has been adequately proven in previous studies internationally.

Additional information with relevance to the exact nature of the
occupation in sericulture was obtained in the field. Those subjects who

were identified as having asthma (or chronic obstructive lung disease)

were interviewed by the medical consultant (with considerable past
)

experience in the field of investigation of occupational asthma in

sericulture). The medical history focussed on the duration of silk work,

its nature and the duration of asthma. Particular attention was given
to elicit past history or family history of allergy which may have

contributed to the illness. History of remission from asthma when away
from silk work was looked into carefully as this is an important aspect
in the diagnosis of occupational asthma, in most if not all subjects.
> Spirometry (Lung Function Tests):

Spirometry was conducted on all the study and control subjects, with

the aid of a portable electronic spirometer, with pneumotachograph and
computer base (SPIROSCREEN Model of Gould Electronics, U S A). The
following parameters were recorded and analyzed.

1. Forced vital capacity (Liters)
2. Forced Expiratory volume in 1 second
3. Forced Expiratory volume in 1 sec/Forced vital capacity

ratio.

4. Maximal midexpiratory fl ow rate (lit/sec)

98

5. Peak Expiratory’ flow rate (with a miniWright’s peak flow

meter.

6. Forced expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity
7. Forced expiratory' flow at 50% of vital capacity.
8. Forced expiratory’ flow at 75% of vital capacity.

The latter three parameters allow the appreciation of small airways flow
and the degree of limitation of small airways flow.

Mild (subclinical)

airways dysfunction can be diagnosed with these parameters while the
other values still remain normal.

The time volume curve and the integrated flow volume curves were
observed for appreciation of presence of flow defects during the lung

function tests.

The observed parameters were compared with already published norms for
lung functions for five hundred and sixty South Indian Male and Female
subjects11. In this manner, normal, obstructive and restrictive defects were
analyzed as well as the degree of deficit noted.

Allergen Challenge Test:

In one subject, who gave a strongly suggestive

history of grainage dust causing immediate w’heezing, the challenge test

99

was done with baseline spirometry and spirometiy repeated after a few

minutes of exposure to the grainage dust in the ambient atmosphere. The
)

results of the test are elaborated in the results section below.

)

> Allergy prick Tests:
)

The presence of atopy (allergy) to silk worm derived antigens was

established by using prick tests performed with silk antigens derived
from the pupae. In previous studies we have noted that a comparison

of the antigens from the pupae was somewhat superior to the antigen
from the cocoon, and hence we have been using the pupal antigen in all

subsequent studies.

The antigenic material was prepared at the

Biochemistry laboratory of Professor P. V. Subba Rao of the Indian

Institute of Science, Bangalore.

The prick test were performed by

placing a small droplet of the silk antigen, a droplet of Histamine
solution and a droplet of buffered saline on the volar surface of the

forearm of the subjects, and gently pricking the superficial layer of the

skin through the droplet with a 26 gauge fine needle. The region was
inspected after 15 minutes for the presence of a wheal and the area of

the wheal if any was recorded. The skin test was regarded as positive or
negative according to standard criteria employed in prick tests and the

reaction was interpreted as positive or negative. The positive skin prick
11 Om Prakash, Lung India, Vol 8, P23, 1990

100

tests to a given antigen indicates the presence of abundant antigen

specific IgE antibodies in that given subject’s serum.

The tests were

conducted on the study subjects as well as the control subjects. (All the
prick tests were performed by the medical consultant and interpreted so

that inter observer bias would be eliminated).

Normally, histamine

elicits a 4 to 8 mm wheal reaction (called positive control) and the saline
solution elicits no reaction (called the negative control).

A positive

allergic reaction to any antigen should be above the diameter of the

positive control wheal in order to be immunologically significant.

Haematology:
In selected asthma subjects and control subjects with chest symptoms,
U

the following blood parameters were performed.
U

1. Hemoglobin (gm%)

2. Total white cell count.
3. Differential white cell count.
4. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Attention was given to presence of any anemia (denoting poor

nutritional status) and presence of high Eosinophil count
which would favour the presence of allergic state.

Radiology:
Standard posteroantcrior view chest X-rays were done in selected

101

VJH- ICU

06752

subjects of the study as well as control subjects, in order to detect
any radiological abnormality.

Particular attention was paid to note

evidence of chronic bronchitis and any past evidence or active

pulmonary’ tuberculosis.

RESULTS
The study Group:

There were fifty seven subjects in the study group. With 42 females and 15

males. Among these, a few non respiratory illness subjects presented for
medical examination and these were included as they would also serve as

control subjects apart from the separate control group from the non
sericulture area.
Age Range: Males

Females :

16-55 years
20 - 60 years

Duration of Silk work:

Males

2 to 27 years

Females :

2 to 35 years

Total number of asthmatics: 42 subjects

Occupational asthma: 32 subjects
(21 Females: 11 Males)

Non-occupational asthma: 10 subjects

Duration of silk work:

102

Females: 2 years to 15 years

Males

: 2 years to 35 years

The duration of occupational asthma varied from as short as 6 months to
<_

as long as 15 years.

Three subjects were categorized as chronic bronchitis based on smoking

histoiy as well as clinical features and obstructive airway defect.

C
U

The following cases studied were noteworthy from the medical point of view

as they raise certain questions which may add insights to the overall
understanding of occupational asthma.

A.

U

One 20 year old woman stated that she had no asthma symptoms
during her childhood which was spent in the silk environment; she left

Siddlaghatta and was away for a few years and later when she
returned to Siddlaghatta, she developed asthma symptoms and

evidence of allergy to silk antigens. This might imply that during the
initial years of exposure, she had no allergic state but was being slowly
sensitized (developing allergic antibodies to silk allergens); upon

rcchallenge later, she developed obvious asthma symptoms needing

treatment.

This phenomenon is well known with other common

allergens like pollens and dust, but ’inadequately described in the

103

context of occupational asthma. It is not clear whether milder forms

of this phenomenon are occurring in the community at large is an
unanswered question.

B.

One young woman was not a silk worker as such, but was living in the
same house in which reeling was being done. She developed asthma
and was allergic to silk antigen. This would be the passive exposure

effect and again, the magnitude of this problem in the community at
large is yet to be determined.
C.

One 43 year old man, a driver by profession (who spends most of the
time outdoors and is exposed to grainage dust only periodically when
he comes indoors), complained of cough and wheeze upon entering the

grainage area.

He was subjected to the allergen challenge test.

Baseline spirometry was done and the data recorded. He was asked to
walk about in the grainage for five minutes.
about in the grainage for five minutes.

He was asked to walk

He was noted to have chest

tightness, cough and mild shortness of breath, at which point of time,

spirometry was repeated. The data obtained are shown below.
Parameter
FVC
F E V 1.0 sec
Peak Flow rate
i M M EFR
Flow at 50% VC

Baseline
3779
3716
450 L/min
2.61 L/Sec
3.18 L/sec

Post exposure
Z88
( - 24%)
2.38
(- 24%)
300 L/min
1.65 L/sec
1.67 L/sec

This subject had a strongly positive skin'test for silk antigen and this

104

conclusively proves that he was a subject of occupational asthma.

To

our knowledge, this is the FIRST time that a challenge test has been
performed in the contest of silk studies, and this may be important as this

type of “natural setting” challenge tests are easy to perform and can pick
up subjects suspected to be having allergy to airborne allergens.

D.

Tv'o subjects showed remission after suffering from asthma for a few

years; in one case, it appeared to be natural remission while the
subject continued to be exposed to silk allergens.

In the other, the

remission was due to the subject leaving silk work due to illness which
was becoming increasingly severe.

The immunological mechanism

underlying the first subject’s clinical behaviour is not clear at this

time.
ANALYSIS OF LUNG FUNCTION TESTS:

A. All the 57 study subjects underwent spirometry. Among these, ten
subjects had normal lung functions. These included six intra-group
controls (those with no lung symptoms) and one with mild asthma

but normal lung functions at time of testing.

B. 32 subjects with asthma had abnormal lung functions, with varying
severity of functional impairment.

C. Two subjects had chronic bronchitis with severe impairment of lung
functions.

105

D. There were SEVEN cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom six
were treated cases and one was an active case. The lung functions I

the six cases showed mild to moderate restriction of vital capacity,
due to lung fibrosis (scarring) and in the active case testing was not

done.

Based on careful analysis of the lung function tests, the following
observations can be made:

1. The longer the duration of asthma, the more the functional
impairment.

2. Generally, subjects with short duration of asthma tend to have

better preserved lung functions, though there may be exceptions
to this.

3. It is to be noted that even subjects with mild asthma showed
impairment of small airway parameters, indicating that there was
disease in a mild form. This finding is of considerable importance

from the point of view of detecting asthma in the occupational
setting and from the epidemiological point of view in further
studies.

4. It

must

be

stated,

however,

that occupational

and

non-

occupational asthma will both show similar defects and one

cannot use lung function parameters to differentiate the two.

106

)

Haematology:
The results of the blood tests revealed among the 20 study subjects who

had blood tests, as many as 15 had mild anemia (less than 11.0 Gm

hemoglobin.

Five subjects showed mild eosinophilia.

Eosinophils

increase in blood in many states of allergy, and presumably the cause of
eosinophilia in these subjects was asthma. However, worm infestation

is also a common cause and this has to be kept in mind in interpreting

the data.
> Radiology:
Routine Chest X-rays were performed in thirty three subjects and

interpreted by the medical consultant. 26 were radiologically normal.
Seven subjects had evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis, with resultant

scarring of the lung.

One subject had chronic bronchitis as well as

tuberculosis. One subject had left basal bronchiectasis.
CONTROL SUBJECTS
The control subjects were from among those surveyed in a village in

which silk work is not present.

A total of sixteen subjects were

included. There were 14 males and 2 females. The age ranged from 35

to 75 years. Among these seasonal asthma was noted in three subjects
and chronic bronchitis in eight subjects. Perennial asthma was noted

in one subject.
medication

Only this subject was dependent on oral steroid

for relief.

There were five non respiratory subjects,

107

(diabetes, hypertension and alcoholism).
Skin tests:

Ail the subjects were negative to prick testing with silk pupal antigen.
This of course, vas an expected finding.

Radiolog}7:
Chest X rays were done in six selected cases.

interpreted as normal.

All these X-rays were

It must be noted that mild to moderate

bronchitis may not be evident on chest X-ray and is essentially

diagnosed by lung function tests and history.

Notably, there was no

case of tuberculosis.

Haematology:
Haematology was done in the same subjects who had radiology.
Anemia was noted in one subject.

Mild eosinophilia was noted in one

asthmatic who was the one with perennial asthma.

discussion

The present study reveals that a substantial morbidity due to occupational
asthma ousts in die silk workers. The exposure to allergens derived from
silk can occur al different stages, firstly, die process of boiling of cocoons

before reeling can expose the woiTer to aetosolised particles and sensitize

108

him/her. Secondly, the reelers are at risk for the same reason. Thirdly,
in the grainages, exposure to epithelial dust from the moths pervades the

atmosphere indoors and can act as the allergic trigger over a period of

time. In the past studies we have shown that the epithelial dust is indeed

antigenic by showing that the dust is rich in the same proteins which
emanate from the pupae. Further, studies from Japan indicate that even

the inhalation of dried urine of the silkworm moths can be antigenic, so
that rearers can also be at increased risk to develop asthma.

What are the therapeutic options open to alleviate the morbidity due to

occupational asthma? The ideal option would be to identify young subjects
who are already sensitized to silk allergens and counsel them to be away
from this environment.

(In fact we have noted in the past two boys, one

aged five and the other seven years old who were showing strongly positive
skin tests to silk allergen). But this seems unfeasible. The other option is

for the worker to leave the occupation at an early stage in the development
of the disease so that he can escape to relative health.

But this again

seems a formidable step given the economic conditions that prevail. Past

studies have shown in other models of occupational asthma that the longer

the duration of asthma, the more severe the asthma and gradually
persistent (as opposed to reversible) airways obstruction results.

In fact

many examples we saw in the course of our study were indeed such cases

109

with permanent respiratory symptoms despite treatment.

The.other option would be to try to reduce the degree of exposure to the

allergens by some means of environmental engineering.

In the silk

grainages at least, where the particles are airborne matter, the following
suggestions have been proposed.

a. Well designed buildings with cross ventilation as well as exhaust
k_

facilities.

b. Reduce the particulate matter by wet curtains and wet floor.
c. Filter pad masks for the grainage workers.

These measures may be possible in the organized sector to some extent.

While not entirely curative, these measured may tend to lessen the degree
of morbidity. Yet, one must remember than unlike mineral and other dust

particles, where one can talk in terms of particle density in the atmosphere
(in mg per meter), in the context of allergy the amount of allergens matter

that needs to be inhaled can be extremely small, and the measures
mentioned above may not work to the extent anticipated. Only systematic
studies can throw more light on the question.

In the reeling units, exhaust fans and airflow designed to carry the aerosol

emanating away from the worker can be looked into; this step also needs to

110

be

studied

in

a

very

controlled

manner

before

large

scale

recommendations can be made.

This leaves us with options directed towards treatment of the affected

worker; after all, allergy and resultant asthma affects only a proportion of

the workers, and perhaps financial and other forms of thrust may have to
be directed towards treatment of the individual and monitoring his/her

progress.

The present study emphasizes on the degree of morbidity as assessed by

clinical criteria in the form of symptoms and disability as well as by
impaired lung functions.

It was noted that the efficiency of the workers

suffers due to the disease, as well as the cost of the treatment strains the

already poor economic resources.

A more serious dimension is the fact

that many of these patients are placed on corticosteroids orally to control

asthma symptoms. Steroids, undoubtedly, do cause significant reduction
in asthma by a variety of biochemical mechanisms; but long term use of

steroids can lead to systemic side effects; the more important of these are
hypertension, diabetes, impaired immunity leading to frequent infections
and loss of calcium from bones (osteoporosis). One of the most significant

advances in the management of asthma in general has been the availability^
of inhaled steroids (namely, Beclomethasone, Budesonide and more

111

recently, Fluticasone).
i

)

)

These are extensively used in the treatment of

asthma in our communities, wherever the patients can afford them.
Inhaled steroids can cause reduction in asthma with minimal side effects.

i )

But the cost of these appear prohibitive in the context of the silk workers.

Further, the inhalation devices and the proper use of them are difficult to
)

teach even in the urban context; it would appear formidable in the field at

large. One has to them resort to large volume spacer devices which can
deliver aerosol medications more effectively and can be taught easily. But

the cost may again be an inhibiting factor, though the spacer device is an
J

onetime investment.

Unfortunately, there is very paucity of studies

addressing towards the trials of inhaled steroids in the setting of common
j

occupational asthma models. Further, it is not known whether asthma in
general responds more readily than the occupational variety.

In view of these observations, we decided to administer long acting
theophyllin and nonsedating antihistamine to a group of 20 asthmatic

subjects.

These were given as Theophyllin (Theolong) 100 mg once at

bedtime or twice daily, depending on the severity’ of asthma; cetirizine

hydrochloride 10 mg given at bedtime. After a period of four weeks, most
patients reported some degree of reduction of symptoms, particularly

nocturnal symptoms during the study period. Perhaps a controlled trial of
inhaled steroids, in a study group can be very’ useful to answer the

112

question of an alternative to oral steroids.

Tuberculosis:

It was noted

during the study that as many as seven

subjects had developed pulmonary tuberculosis and needed treatment.

None of the control subjects had pulmonary tuberculosis.

Though

definitive conclusions can perhaps not be drawn about this, one is

intrigued by the rather high prevalence of tuberculosis in the silk setting.
It is well known that oral corticosteroids impair cell mediated immunity
and hence it is tempting to implicate steroids as the cause for reactivation

of tuberculosis among some of the workers. But it has to be noted that the
subjects with tuberculosis were not steroid dependent; it is however
possible that occasional steroid use may have been resorted to by these
)

asthmatics when asthma was severe. Also, it is noteworthy that there were
non-asthmatic subjects who had contracted tuberculosis among the study

group. It is hence more likely that the congested living conditions might
have been conducive to the lateral spread of tubercular infection.

In this context, it I worth noting that some occupational pneumoconiosis
such as silicosis can predispose to tuberculosis of the lungs. It is not clear

whether asthma, in some complex way reduces the local immune
mechanisms and predispose to break-down of tuberculosis.

Overall, it is

felt that the higher prevalence of tuberculosis needs to be looked into in

113

greater detail with epidemiologically controlled data documentation.

«**

Pediatric Population: During the course of the study, we noted that a large
i

aw

number of young children, including infants in arms, were exposed to silk

1
1
L

ST----- /

environment. As noted earlier, sensitization is occurring at a young age. It
is imperative that studies by pediatricians be conducted to see the extent
of the problem and the possible long term implications of the exposure.

-

3
3
3
BL

In conclusion, the data obtained from this study, denote that there is
■

substantial morbidity due to asthma in silk workers. The prevailing socio
economic conditions do not seem to favour environmental manipulation as
the major alleviating factor.

It would appear that provision of long term

bronchodilators and perhaps

anti inflammatory drugs such as inhaled

steroids to the asthma subjects may be the viable option to mitigate the

suffering as well as minimize side effects due to steroids.

iW

I

r

51

3
1

I

SB®
114

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