Phytochemical profiling and pharmacological investigation of selected species of Litsea Lam Lauraceae southern western ghats India

Abstract

Rapid population growth, urbanisation, modernisation, and accelerated development have intensified environmental challenges, thereby diminishing the environment’s capacity to sustain human activities. Among these, municipal solid waste has emerged as a critical concern, particularly in densely populated urban areas, where its increasing volume poses serious threats to both public health and the environment. As a result, effective solid waste handling, management, and appropriate disposal have become pressing environmental priorities. Furthermore, sanitation, a key indicator of quality of life, serves as an important measure of a country’s socio-cultural and economic progress; however, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene practices continue to impede development across health, education, and both rural and urban sectors. Sanitation workers are the backbone of waste management systems and are essential for keeping the environment clean and protecting public health. However, they have to deal with difficult working conditions, health dangers, social stigma, and restricted access to protective gear and job security. Kerala is one of the fastestgrowing states in India, with people living close together and urban elements spreading into rural and semi-urban areas. The quick rise in municipal solid garbage has made it even harder to manage. Limited land availability, insufficient infrastructure, and poor waste separation at the source make management much harder. Municipalities and businesses hire sanitation workers to handle the growing amount of trash. To make waste management in Kerala better, these workers need better infrastructure, policy changes, better working conditions, social recognition, and welfare measures. In this context, the quality of work life (QWL) of sanitation workers is a critical aspect of ensuring the overall well- being and dignity of workers. The study uses a mixed-method approach combining survey and interview to gather data on their perception and challenges during calamities. For sampling purposes, the state of Kerala is divided into three regions on the basis of geographical location, namely North, Central and South Kerala. The study is both descriptive and analytical in nature and mainly depends on primary data. Primary data were collected from 380 sanitation workers working under municipalities and corporations by using a structured questionnaire. Inferential statistics were applied to augment the researcher’s inference. The statistical analysis was carried out with the help of statistical software SPSS version 22 and AMOS version 23, data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation one-sample t-test, independent sample t test, ANOVA/Welch test, correlation and structural equation modelling. The study finds that sanitation workers possess a moderate quality of work life (QWL) in their employment. Although they convey satisfaction in terms of their working conditions, social support and workplace relationships, their perceptions remain moderate with respect to critical aspects such as compensation, workload, work-life balance, job security, health and safety, training and development, and opportunities for professional advancement. Moreover, data reveal that sanitation workers experience problems that exceed the average during calamities. These findings highlight the necessity for the implementation of specific initiatives to improve the quality of work life for sanitation workers in Kerala. Enhancing pay, incentives, and welfare benefits for low-income workers, while also mitigating workload pressures and expectations for high-income individuals, can foster greater job satisfaction and equilibrium across economic strata. Moreover, in times of calamity, authorities must bolster disaster preparedness by guaranteeing the availability of sufficient safety equipment, instituting explicit operational protocols, providing prompt support services, and refining disaster response systems through appropriate training, coordination, and thorough welfare initiatives. The study concludes that improving the QWL of sanitation workers requires a multifaceted approach involving Government initiative, employees' responsibility, societal awareness, recommendations including stricter safety protocols, providing regular health check-ups and promoting awareness campaigns to reduce stigma associated with sanitation work, thereby enhancing the QWL of sanitation workers, contributing to their dignity, well-being, and overall sustainability of sanitation service.