• Dr. H.THAVAMALAR

In India, among the small scale industries, stone crushing industry plays an important role as it has an influence in fulfilling the shelter need of people by providing crushed stones for roofing of buildings. This industry has its merit by providing basic raw material for various infrastructure developments including paving roads, constructing bridges and canal establishment. Apart from this, it is also used in the manufacturing of cement based products like RCC pipes, PSC poles, pre-moulded slabs, frames and beams for fabrication. It is quite amazing to note that there are around 12000 units available in our country and is considered as an economy boosting sector with an annual turnover of Rs.5000 crores. Over 500000 individuals are employed in this business that includes workers and entrepreneurs. The working category is engaged for carrying out works in mining, crushing plant, transportation of mined stone and crushed products. This industry infuses social upliftment and significant economic improvement to the rural poor as it provides employment opportunities. There is a concern that although it improves the society both socially and economically, the occupational environment at the stone crushing sites passes a notable health hazard to the workers, since inhalation of particles such in silica over a long period of time may cause silicosis. Respiratory damage resulting from such exposures can range from reversible functional changes to irreversible damage to the lungs and in some extreme exposures, causes lung cancer. Hence, steps should be taken to mitigate the entire environmental hazard and to run the industry eco friendly a socio-economically profitable one. The present study was conducted in six taluks of Villupuram district. In each taluk, 10 per cent of stone crushing units have been selected. From each unit, 4 workers are selected for constituting the sample size of 120 workers. The study focuses on the socio-economic and health problems of the workers due to polluted environment.

Stone crushing industry, employee welfare, environmental pollution, sustainable environment, etc.

"SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF STONE CRUSHING INDUSTRY IN VILLUPURAM DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no.692-698, May-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRBP06121.pdf

"SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF STONE CRUSHING INDUSTRY IN VILLUPURAM DISTRICT OF TAMILNADU", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 5, page no. pp692-698, May-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRBP06121.pdf