Impact of mining operations on the health and nutritional status of local communities in Odisha, India

Mining operations have numerous negative impacts on the periphery that cause loss of ancestral occupation and livelihood, damage to forest, agriculture and common property resources, pollute the local environment and affect the overall socio-economic life of people living in the region. Nutrition and health status of the mining workers and local people are two major indicators affected significantly by mining activities, which are inadequately compensated by the companies. The present exploratory study tries to assess the effects of mining operations on the nutrition and health of mine workers and local people living in the mining periphery of one of the major mining districts (Keonjhar) of Odisha, India. The primary study used a mixed-methods approach to collect cross-sectional data from 257 households (1295 population) living in the core mining regions, using a structured interview schedule. The data were collected from eight villages and operational mines under five blocks of Keonjhar. The study found that mining operations have affected the nutritional intake and health of the mine workers and their community. Poverty, loss of access to forest and productive agricultural land, poor communication, and distance to market were major factors for inadequate nutrition. Diseases caused by environmental issues, i.e., fever, cold, cough, and occupational illnesses like lung problems, asthma, chest pain, joint pain, weakness, and skin disease, were the most reported diseases in the mine areas. Mining operations have a critical negative impact on the mining workers, which damages overall health and nutrition by causing numerous socio-economic and environmental hazards. The profit motive of mining companies causes non-compliance with the law, guided by the Mines Act and the DGMS for healthcare and nutrition in the mining locality.