Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1850495947

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-233603

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: His Majesty's Stationery Off.

Year of publication:: 1931

Scope:: xviii, 580 S.; graph. Darst., Kt.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter XIV. - Health and welfare of the industrial worker

Collection:: Economics Books

HEALTH AND WELFARE. 245 quantities of green vegetables but these supplies are seldom adequate. The result is a lack of stamina and a lowered resisting power to disease which are apparent not only amongst the rice-eating races but even in those whose staple food is wheat. The effect is severely to handicap the agricultural emigrant in making the many adjustments required of him when he migrates to the industrial field. Adjustments Necessary. The new conditions of life are very different from those to which he has been accustomed. On arrival, he usually finds accommodation with some relative or friend living in an already overcrowded room in a congested area. On obtaining work he is compelled to change his usual meal hours, although he adheres to his custom of taking two meals a day. His first repast is usually taken before he goes to work, but as the early start gives little time for cooking, this generally consists of- cold food pre- pared the previous night. The interval between the morning and afternoon spells of work is much shorter than in the village and is used pri- marily for rest, although on occasion he postpones his first meal to this period. At other times some light refreshment like parched gram is taken. The evening meal is usually the main one of the day.» Moreover, the worker’s diet is unsatisfactory from many standpoints ; milk is more difficult to procure than in his village, pure ghi is unobtainable, whilst vegetables or fruit, even if available, are often beyond his means. Usually the work is indoors ; this, coupled in many cases with unaccustomed con- centration for long hours on new work, involves a strain not always appre- ciated. Finally there is the matter of housing, with which we deal in a separate chapter. The generous contributions made by a number of employers towards the provision of houses represent a substantial attempt to improve conditions. Apart from these, housing is of the meanest des- cription, and the indifference of the worker to the dangers of overcrowding, and lack of light, ventilation and sanitation enhance its detrimental effect. Moreover, shortage of houses, absence of adequate transport and the natural reluctance of the worker to live anywhere but in close proximi- ty to his work add to the overcrowding and compel him to submit to exor- bitant rent charges. The industrial recruit is thus handicapped from the start, Lack of Family Life. } Another factor which must be takeninto account when dealing with the health of the worker and the difficulties of adjustment which confront him when he leaves agriculture for industry is the disturbance to family life. In his own village, the balance of the sexes is for the most Part normal. When he comes into industry, it is usual for him to leave hig family at home. If he has a plot of land, his wife and family must be left behind to till and reap. Inaddition the housing facilities are ordinari- ly such that he has little prospect of obtaining suitable family quarters. Too often all that is available is a share of a room, where he keeps his small box. The number of such boxes is generally a sure indication of the number of tenants in the room, shewing only too clearly that the

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Monograph

Chapter

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation