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P a g e | 10Recommendations on OccupationalHealth and Safety –HandicraftOccupational Health and Safety needsto be inserted as an area of focus intoexisting schemes, especially theBabasaheb Ambedkar Hastshilp VikasYojana (BAHVY) and the TechnologyUpgradation Scheme (TUS). Diagnosticstudies should include a section onhealth impacts, and interventions aspart of the BAHVY scheme shouldinclude strategies to mitigate suchharmful impact, including awarenesscampaigns; support for retrofitting ofwork-sheds with proper lighting andventilation; and distribution of low-costsafety equipment kits. Under the TUS,support can be provided for improvingspecific craft production processes tominimize adverse health impacts andto introduce and field-test appropriateprotective gear. Safety pamphlets andprotective equipment developedthrough research (see below) can thenbe made a part of ongoing schemeinterventions in selected clusters.During the 12th plan period, support isneeded to conduct more research toidentify and quantify health impacts inselected crafts clusters. The Office ofthe DC Handicrafts should seek tocommission studies into selected craftsclusters to identify and quantifyadverse health impacts and to furtherdevelop appropriate solutions. Initially,10 crafts clusters can be chosen basedon number of artisans employed andmarket potential of the craft.Recommendations on OccupationalHealth and Safety –HandloomsOccupational Health and Safety needsto be inserted as an area of focus intoexisting schemes, especially theIntegrated Handloom DevelopmentScheme and the TechnologyUpgradation Fund Scheme. Diagnosticstudies should include a section onhealth impacts, and interventions aspart of the scheme should includestrategies to mitigate such harmfulimpact, including awarenesscampaigns; support for retrofitting ofwork-sheds with proper lighting andventilation; and distribution of low-costsafety equipment kits.During the 12th plan period, support isneeded to conduct more research toidentify and quantify health impacts inselected handloom clusters. The Officeof the DC Handlooms should seek tocommission studies into selectedhandloom clusters to identify andquantify adverse health impacts and tofurther develop appropriate solutions.Details & Factsheet of the project can be downloaded from www.switch-asia.eu and www.aiacaonline.orgANNUAL REPORT 2011 - 12