Authors: Albert Alex, Assistant Professor Dr. R. Saritha
Abstract: The Haritha Karma Sena (HKS), a core segment of Kerala’s Haritha Keralam Mission, presents a unique, community-based model that combines sustainable waste management with socio-economic empowerment. This paper examines the health outcomes, economic stability, and job satisfaction of HKS workers, focusing on women employed in waste collection, segregation, and recycling. Through this work, HKS addresses Kerala’s critical waste challenges while showing economic independence to participants. However, the job’s physical demands and direction to occupational hazards raise concerns about worker's health and well-being. This research uses a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews among HKS members in Nilambur Block Panchayat, Malappuram district. Data analysis indicates a favorable relation between HKS employment and financial stability, though work-related health issues stress and injury risks are dominant. Chi-Square tests reveal significant relationships between job satisfaction and both health concerns and sensed financial stability, pointing out that improving occupational safety and financial benefits could improve satisfaction. This research contributes to an unexplored understanding of HKS's health and economic dimensions, addressing a gap in this research. HKS members face notable health concerns, such as respiratory issues, back pain, and high stress levels, indicating workplace health risks. Economically, while HKS provides some stability through financial benefits, many members still find their income insufficient. Overall, while HKS supports both economic stability and satisfaction to an extent, health and income challenges reveal key areas for improvement. The findings offer practical recommendations to optimize HKS’s impact, including improved health measures, improved training, and increased financial aid. These enhancements could make HKS a more powerful model of sustainable waste management and community empowerment, with lessons applicable across similar initiatives.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15834074
