Socio economic and nutritional status of handloom weavers from thiruvannamalai district, tamil nadu

Handloom Industry is the second largest industry next to agriculture providing livelihood to millions of weavers in India. Handloom sector plays a very important role in the country’s economy. Handloom weaving in India is an inherited art where weavers learn to weave from their ancestors and thus this craft is practised widely in rural areas and is providing employment to a wide section of rural artisans. Despite the fact that Indian handloom industry has made a distinct place in the world, this sector has not attained proper importance as far as weaving related health problems and their effects are concerned. Several health hazards are associated with weaving and related activities which may cause stress and strain to weavers and pose several health related risk factors to them. Majority of the weavers are facing severe occupational health problems such as Asthma, Tuberculosis, Inflammation of respiratory system, Blood pressure, Obesity, Cardiovascular diseases and Diabetes mellitus. The present research was planned to study the socio economic back ground, dietary pattern, life style and work pattern of the handloom weavers of Thiruvannamalai district, who form a sizable segment of the weaving community in the state. The study also aimed at assessing the nutritional status of the handloom weavers, identify the occupational health problems and to plan and implement functional food based approaches and nutrition education to overcome the health related problems.