The Problem

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The people building India's infrastructure need better access to preventive health.

Construction is one of India's largest sources of employment. As of September 2024, approximately 5.73 crore workers were registered with Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards across India. (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2092732&lang=1&reg=3&)

The scale of the sector makes worker health a public-health as well as workplace issue.

The World Health Organization identifies musculoskeletal injuries, silicosis, chronic respiratory diseases and noise-induced hearing loss among India's major occupational-health concerns. Globally, WHO estimates that only 15% of workers have access to specialised occupational-health services. (https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/occupational-health)

Construction workers can also face risks associated with prolonged outdoor work. WHO and the World Meteorological Organization identify construction workers among the occupational groups particularly exposed to heat stress, which can contribute to dehydration, heat exhaustion, kidney dysfunction and other health problems. (https://www.who.int/news/item/22-08-2025-who-wmo-issue-new-report-and-guidance-to-protect-workers-from-increasing-heat-stress)

The Government of India has identified the need for stronger preventive outreach. In January 2025, the Ministry of Labour & Employment called for safety training for construction workers and campaign-mode tuberculosis screening through State and UT BOCW systems.

There is also a practical access problem. Construction workers may move between worksites and districts, work long or irregular hours, and postpone preventive care until a health problem begins interfering with work. The International Labour Organization has highlighted workplace-based health interventions as an effective way of reaching migrant and informal workers who may otherwise remain outside routine screening and social-protection systems. (https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/reducing-hiv-testing-and-social-protection-coverage-gaps-amongst-migrant)