Vol. 9, Issue 3 (2020)

Author(s):
Navroop Kaur, Harpinder Kaur and Sharanbir Kaur Bal

Abstract:
Marigold is the most commonly grown flower in Punjab. It is an annual flower plant and there is an intensive involvement of women in marigold cultivation. Women are engaged in very hard working operations i.e. transplanting, weeding, hoeing and harvesting; but the people rarely recognize the drudgery, body disorders and hazards involved in these activities. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of work related drudgery score, body disorders and hazards experienced by female farm workers engaged in marigold cultivation. The present study was carried out in the six marigold fields of Ludhiana district from month June - October. A total of 120 female workers were selected as respondents randomly. Mean score, mean rank, frequency and percentage were used to calculate the work related drudgery scores, body disorders and hazards experienced by female workers engaged in marigold cultivation and to find out the coping mechanisms used by respondents to treat their problems. The results showed that harvesting is considered as the most drudgery prone activity where women have to work in awkward posture. Body ache is the major work related body disorder felt by 81.67 per cent respondents and something stuck in eyes is major work related hazard experienced by 80.00 per cent respondents. Among coping mechanisms adopted by respondents to treat their problems it was found that large majority of respondents (77.34%) ignored the disorder.