Citation:

Mahendra Kumar Kondipati. "Health Hazards and Awareness of Health Insurance status among Handloom workers in Mangalagiri" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 5, No. 5, pp. 199-205, 2026. Crossref. http://doi.org/10.56472/25835238/IRJEMS-V5I5P124

Abstract:

Handloom weaving is an integral part of Indian culture and tradition and the weavers face a number of occupational health problems such as the adoption of faulty postures during weaving, exposure to cotton dust and chemical dyes used on yarn, and poor lighting and ventilation in the household setting. Mangalagiri (also GI tagged) in the district of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh is one such handloom cluster where more than 3200 registered weaver households’ health hazards are yet to be taken into cognizance. The study focuses on the type and magnitude of ill health and work hazards faced by the weavers in Mangalagiri and on the insurance coverage of the weavers and their level of cognizance concerning health insurance schemes, based on a sample of 140 respondents in 2025. Using descriptive statistics, percentage analysis, cross-tabulation, and chi-square tests, the study indicates that musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), respiratory disease (RD) and eye strain were the three most common health issues. A shocking 71.4% of the workers have no valid health insurance. Knowledge about government schemes like PM-JAY, AP state health schemes is poor. Significant chi-square associations between education and awareness about insurance and between severity of health hazards and insurance status were found. The study ends with selective policy implications for strengthening the occupational health infrastructure, widening the coverage of insurance, and conducting awareness programmes in the Mangalagiri handloom cluster.

References:

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Keywords:

Handloom Workers, Occupational Health Hazards, Health Problems, Health Insurance, Insurance Awareness, Mangalagiri, Weaving.