| ASSESSMENT
OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT IN RELATION TO SARSATALI COAL MINING
PROJECT
AIMS
OF THE STUDY:
The main aim of the study is
to ascertain the extent of stress of the villagers regarding
the resettlement, their overall attitude towards the same
and their coping mechanism.
| METHODS
OF DATA COLLECTION: |
Tools
used: |
| Field study
method |
1. The Social
Readjustment |
| Survey method |
Rating Scale. |
| Oral interviews |
|
| (a)
Individual |
|
| (b)
Group |
|
The studies were done with the
help of the field workers of ASHA in two villages namely Mouldanga,
and Diguli. The socio-demographic details of the same were
also provided by ASHA for further evaluation and preparing
this report.
INTRODUCTION
AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The term stress has many definitions (Lazarus & Flockman,
1984). We will define stress as an internal state, which can
be caused by physical demands of the body or by environmental
and social situations which are evaluated as potentially harmful,
uncontrollable, or exceeding resources for coping. The physical,
environmental and social causes of stress state are termed stressors.
Once induced by stressors the internal stress state can then
lead to various responses. On the one hand it can result in
a number of physical bodily responses. On the other hand, psychological
responses such as anxiety, hopelessness, depression, irritability
and general feeling of not being able to cope with the world
can result from the Stress State.
Stress is a big problem in our
society (Sharma et. al 1996) some 45% of bodily disease is
said to be stress related (Shah et. al. 1980). For example
stress is often a cause of heart disease (Type A/ Type B behaviors)
and cancer, two of the leading cause of death in India. Further
more, stress related diseases cost American industry billions
of dollars a year. ; several billion tranquilizers pills are
prescribed in the United States each year (Clifford T. Morgan
1986).
Almost any change in the environment
demands some coping; a little stress is useful in helping
us adapt. But beyond some point stress becomes distress. What
acts to produce distress varies greatly from person to person.
Chief
among these are physical or mental
injuries, annoying events in our environments, major changes
or transitions in life which force us to cope new ways of
life.
Changes in ones life are important
stressors (T.H. Holmes 1984). We have used The Social Readjustment
Rating Scale in our study report. An indication of stressor
strength, based on the judgments of adult’s (Holmes &
Rahe, 1967) adolescent (Ruch & Holmes, 1971), and elderly
people (Muhlen Kamp et.al. 1975) is given under the headings
of “life change units.” By adding the life change units during
a year, a life crisis score can be obtained for that year.
As the severity of life crises increases from mild (150-199
life change units), to moderate (200-299 life change units),
to major (over 300 life change units), susceptibility of illness
rises progressively (Holmes & Musuda 1974).
| THE
SOCIAL READJUSTMENT RATING SCALE (COMPREHENSIVE) |
| LIFE EVENT |
ADULTS |
ADOLESCENTS |
ELDERLY |
| MAJOR ILLNESS |
53 |
50 |
65 |
| RETIREMENT FROM
WORK |
45 |
46 |
33 |
| CHANGING TO
DIFF. LINE OF WORK |
36 |
38 |
42 |
| CHANGE IN RESIDENCE |
20 |
28 |
39 |
| CHANGE
IN SCHOOL |
20 |
26 |
34 |
| MAJOR CHANGE
IN LIVING CONDITION (NEW HOME) |
25 |
35 |
48 |
| MAJOR CHANGE
IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES |
18 |
28 |
35 |
METHOD
Two villages named Diguli and Mouldanga were surveyed
separately which includes 8 persons (6 males and 2 females)
in the host village of Mouldanga and 7 persons
(6 males and 1 female) in Diguli. The subject sample are divided
into three groups of adolescent, adult and elderly.
Random sampling method was adopted in both the villages. The
study report of the individual village is given below—
Village
Diguli
According to the Social Readjustment Rating
Scale it was observed that 2 elderly is suffering from
major physical illness and the idea of resettlement
at this juncture of age is not welcomed by them . 2 of the
7 subjects,1 adult and 1 elderly had taken voluntary
retirement and it was also reported that 9 other villagers
had taken voluntary retirement for their instant financial
gratification. The idea of resettlement i.e.. change
in residence and new home is welcomed by all except 2 elderly
who are physically ill. The 2 adolescent are mentally prepared
for this resettlement and change in school in the new Mouldanga
area. Interviewing the subjects separately about the ongoing
process of resettlement observed that all of them are well
communicated about the change that will follow the process
and they are well informed about the resettlement idea .
Village
Mouldanga
According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale
it was observed that 1 elderly had a major physical illness.
It was also reported that an middle age women is pregnant
and thus had retired from work due to her health ground. Interviewing
the subject’s separately about the ongoing process of resettlement
observed that all of them are well communicated about the
change that will follow the process. It was also observed
that all the subjects are personally involved in the whole
action. It was also noticed that they are using cognitive
, or thinking meshanism such as reappraisal of the situation
to deal with the stressor and thus the coping mechanism of
the elderly and the adults are well
RESULT
AND DISCUSSION
In our study it was seen that majority of our subjects
suffered from mild to moderate stress except three elderly
who suffered from major stress. In all the three cases each
suffered from major illness during the year and so the life
change units increased above 300 in the Social Readjustment
Rating Scale.
Not only changes, but many on
going stressors are also noted in this study. These include
pollution, noise, health, and finances, which have been related
to bodily illnesses and frustrations.
In this study it was also seen
that most of the subjects are very well communicated about
the idea of resettlement. They are well informed about the
changes that are going to occur in this process. Although
they are suffering from mild to moderate stress they have
adopted a very well coping mechanism.
On detailed interview it was
seen that some people are better than others at coping with
stressors. The most important result of this study was that
most of the subject mainly the
elderly and the adults had coped
up very well. The reasons for this healthy coping mechanism
are:
They were well informed about
the process of resettlement.
They are prone to take direct action.
They are involved personally in the whole action.
They are advised not to deal the stressor by impulsive behavior.
They are using cognitive, or thinking mechanism- such as reappraisal
of the situation to deal with the stressor.
CONCLUSION
This study reveals that although the subjects are
suffering from mild to moderate stressors according to the
Social Readjustment Rating Scale, majorities has developed
ways of coping with stressors and are responding adaptively.
LIMITATION
OF THE STUDY/ CRITICAL EVALUATION
Smaller group of samples
Usage of only one rating scale
No cross cultural evaluation
No controlled group for study
SUGGESTIONS
Group discussions at regular intervals with special
emphasis on stress handling and coping management.
Regular health detection camps
for physical and behavioral abnormalities
Maintaining a warm and cordial
relationship.
The aim of
the study was to ascertain the extent of stress regarding
the resettlement, their attitudes and the coping mechanism.
Both individual and group interviews using the social readjustment
rating scale. Seven (7) persons of which six were males, belonging
to adolescent, adult and elderly age group were randomly chosen.
The aged do not welcome the idea of resettlement. The rest
welcome the change which is expected to bring newness in their
lives. Except a few women, every body in the santhal village
knows that resettlement is a fait accompli and they have already
accepted the fact. It is also their consciousness that coal
mining would result in sound, dust and other environmental
pollution and it was better to leave the present place. However
they aspire for a better resettlement. They also know that
CESC will build houses for them which has given a sense of
security, though the emotional attachment with their ancestral
houses still remain. In light of resettlement, the villagers
now do not repair their houses and stopped purchasing livestock.
The coping mechanism has been especially assisted by the prospect
of having better living standards.
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