Nevil Andley W

1 st year MSW

Title:
A qualitative study on the quality of life of the utensil makers at Wall Tax
Road in Chennai.

Aim:
To study the worth of life that these utensil workers live in.

Introduction:
Chennai, Wall Tax Road (now, V.O.C. Salai), which is adjacent to the Central
Railway Station, runs parallel to railway tracks and flanks George town on
the west.
The history of the road dates back to 18th Century. The English now,
instituted the wall, which one sees partially as a protective measure in
1772-73. The French occupied the City from 1746 to 1749. When British got
back the City, it began plans to strengthen the Fort. When Hyder Ali
attacked the neighborhoods in 1767, the British made serious plans to
protect the New Black Town (Muthialpettah and Peddunaickenpettah) and
thus plans for a protective wall was laid out. The wall, called ‘Black Town
Wall,' ran for three-and-half-miles and had 17 bastions. It was completed by
Paul Benfield in 1772.
Wall Tax Road is partly residential and partly commercial. The area has
been dominated by business community such as Chettiars, Naickers and
North Indian community. The branching streets are doing brisk business in
various products.
Off Wall Tax Road, the rows of shops selling bamboo baskets, provisions and
knick-knacks obscure from view the rows of dark asbestos roofs where the
machines whir all day long and hands incessantly sort, assemble, and wield
into shape of sheets of steel into household utensils. They work in a heap of
metal objects covered in dark polishing powder. The room, material and the
maker cramped in a room with no windows covered in the soot-like powder
that used to shine the steel. Working hours are from 9 am to 6 pm and the
employees are from nearby localities who have mastered each step. The
money is low but it is a stable work for all of them.
Objectives:
1. To study the precarious working conditions that the utensil workers work
in.
2. To find out about the ill health of the workers who work in a hazardous
situation.
3. To analyse the economic status of the utensil workers.

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF THE STUDY:

Chennai, Wall Tax Road.
 Nevil Andley W
1 st year MSW

RATIONALE OF THE STUDY:

To study and understand about the working conditions of the utensil
makers and to assess their quality of life, health conditions and economic
status and to improvise their working conditions and their health
conditions.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
According to the article “Health is last in the mind of these utensils makers”
that appeared in Times of India, B A Raju | TNN | May 1st 2019, For these
workers the wheezing and skin irritation is an occasional deterrent and the
workers covered in a cocktail of chemicals have a quick break for lunch
amid their wares. There are almost 100 utensils manufacturing units in
Wall Tax Road and Those utensil makers are being exploited with low wage,
hazardous conditions and not conducive work atmosphere. Hence it’s the
need of the hour to study about their quality of their socio-economic
conditions of utensils makers and to make sure that the government
officials take necessary steps to provide healthy atmosphere for those 200
workers.
STUDY DESIGN:
The researcher has used the conclusive research design. This design enables
the researcher to describe the phenomenon under investigation. Since this
study is going to focus on the description about the employees with special
reference to the economic, social and working patterns, a descriptive design
will more relevant for this study.
CRITIERIA FOR SAMPLE SELECTION:
Men in the age group of 23-40 years of age who would 50 in number for an
interview method.
SAMPLE DESIGN:
The researcher has chosen 50 respondents for systematic sampling design.
SAMPLE SIZE:
50 Respondents.
UNIVERSE OF THE STUDY:
Chennai, Tamilnadu
TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECTION:
Researcher will be using interview schedule as a tool for this study.