ZCZC
BSS-05
WOMEN-STONE-WORKERS-HEALTH (Unicef Feature)
Female workers in stone industry need better healthcare
PANCHAGARH, Dec 4, 2018 (BSS)- The country has witnessed massive socio-economic
development over the past 10 years, even the northern region also witnessed significant
development, although it was once regarded as the region of ‘hunger and poverty’.
Once the state of poverty was very acute in Panchagarh, the northern district of
Bangladesh, but that is not seen now as there has been a marked development in the
agricultural system. Apart from this, the increasing trend of tea cultivation has also
infused dynamism into the local economy.
Stones are found in abundance on both sides of the 10-kilometer long Tentulia-
Banglabandha road while hundreds of people including women are seen extracting stones
everyday from the River Mahananda.
Besides, imported stones from India are also being processed here in the stone
crushing factories situated from Tentulia to Bhojonpur where day labourers, especially
women are seen engaged in hard jobs like stone crushing and stone processing.
Panchagarh Stone Extraction and Earth Cutting Union President Mokhtarul Haque Muku
said over 1,000 large and small-scale stone related business enterprises have
mushroomed in this district where female workers alongside male workers are engaged in
such hard and risky jobs.
“But, they are not getting such financial benefits as they face discrimination in
getting their wages compared to the male workers while most of the female workers are
suffering from malnutrition. Moreover, they are not getting the required health
services.”
Samina Begum, hailed from Sardarpara in Tentulia said that she was engaged in stone
processing works five year back after the death of her husband, but she gets merely
Taka 200 everyday. With this little amount, she finds it very difficult to live her
daily life with two daughters and a son. Moreover, she often suffers from various
diseases.
Like Samina, many female workers namely Saleha, Sabiron, Fatema, Laily, Asia are
also engaged in risky jobs like stone crushing works and thus suffer from various
diseases.
Civil Surgeon of Panchagarh Dr Nizam Uddin said those who are engaged in stone
extraction and stone crushing may fall victim of various diseases and physical
complexities like cough and asthma. “The workers also fall victim of silicosis disease
due to dust environment which also reduces the usual performance of their lungs,”
According to a survey, the silicosis disease made an outbreak among the male and
female stone crushing workers at Patgram and Burimari in Lalmonirhat, but no such
survey was carried out in Tentulia.
The Civil Surgeon also said if the stone crushing workers become more conscious and
use masks during their workplace, then they would be able to minimizing the risks of
falling victims to diseases to a great extent.
Tentunlia Upazila Parishad female vice chairman Sultana Razia said around 50,000
female workers from Tentulia and other parts of Panchagarh are engaged in stone
processing and stone crushing works, but they fall victim of discrimination in getting
their wages as they usually get Taka 200 to Taka 300 as daily wages whereas the male
workers usually get Taka 500 to Taka 700.
Moreover, the female workers do not get the required health related services. In case
of any accident, Razia said the workers get some assistance from the Upazila
Development Fund or from the owners, but that is not enough.
Apart from this, they do not have the capacity to consume nutritious food. As a
result, they fall victims of various diseases every now and then.
According to the latest Labour Force Survey carried out by the Bangladesh Bureau of
Statistics (BBS), the total number of female workers in the country is roughly 1.98
crore involved in different sectors like RMG.
But, they face discrimination in getting their due wages and salaries, especially
the female workers involved in stone extraction and stone crushing in Tentulia are
falling victim of financial discrimination every now and then.
Despite being engaged in such risky job, the female workers here are not getting
required health services and thus being affected from various diseases.
Under the circumstances, the Department of Health and the owners of the stone
processing and the stone crushing industries would have to come forward to provide
required health services to these female workers.
BSS/GM/MMA/1225hrs