Health Hazards for Women in Tobacco Cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Women workers in Andhra Pradesh play a crucial role in tobacco cultivation. This article discusses their involvement in regular operations and examines and assesses the health hazards they risk in the course of their work. There is an uneconomical use of human energy due to long hours of work, task postures deleterious to the body and exposure to pesticides. The tedious work, inhospitable environment and poor socio-economic conditions lead to chronic morbidity. It is unfortunate that these workers are not getting the protection of laws that apply to them. Massive intervention in this sector is a responsibility of the departments of labour and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]