On demonetization short term effects: Psychosocial risks in tea garden workers

Area of Science:

• Socioeconomic impact of policy changes
• Occupational health and psychology
• Qualitative social science research

Background:

• India's 2016 demonetization policy removed 86% of currency overnight.
• The policy had significant macroeconomic and socioeconomic effects, particularly on vulnerable populations.
• The psychosocial impact on workers, especially in the tea garden sector, remained understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the psychosocial consequences of demonetization on workers in Indian tea gardens.
• To identify key themes related to the mental and social well-being of affected workers.
• To provide preliminary insights into a critical but overlooked area of research.

Main Methods:

• Employed a qualitative research approach for in-depth understanding.
• Conducted face-to-face interviews with 7 key informants (clinicians, managers).
• Utilized 6 focus groups involving 36 tea garden workers and applied Template Analysis.

Main Results:

• Five major themes emerged from the data analysis.
• Themes included socioeconomic changes, organizational impacts, and workplace relationships.
• Psychophysical symptoms and work-family interface issues were also identified.

Conclusions:

• Demonetization had a substantial impact on Indian tea gardens.
• Both organizational and individual worker levels experienced significant effects.
• This study underscores the need for further research into policy impacts on worker well-being.