[15] ASSESSING PESTICIDE EXPOSURE RISKS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF WOMEN IN TEA GARDENS: REGULATORY GAPS IN SAFETY MEASURES FOR SPRAY WORKERS UNDER INDIA’S OSH CODE : How to Cite the Article: Pooja Devi (2026). Assessing Pesticide Exposure Risks and Reproductive Health of Women in Tea Gardens: Regulatory Gaps in Safety Measures for Spray Workers Under India’s Osh Code. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research & Reviews, 5(6),173-187.  https://doi.org/10.56815/ijmrr.v5i6.2026.173-187

Pooja Devi

Authors

Pooja Devi Research Scholar, RSLA (Department of law), The Assam Royal Global University, Guwahati, Assam, India.

Abstract

This article critically examines the intersection between occupational pesticide exposure and the reproductive health of women spray workers in India’s tea gardens. Tea cultivation, a sector heavily reliant on female labour, often involves hazardous agrochemicals and lacks adequate safety protocols. Despite regulatory frameworks such as India’s Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, significant gaps persist in implementing effective safety measures, particularly for women. This study aims to assess the extent and nature of pesticide exposure among female spray workers, analyse the associated reproductive health risks, and evaluate the adequacy of current regulatory protections. Drawing on a review of relevant literature, regulatory texts, and available field data, the article highlights the gendered vulnerabilities that heighten health risks for women in this sector. Findings indicate a lack of comprehensive training, inadequate provision and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and insufficient health monitoring, all of which contribute to adverse reproductive health outcomes such as menstrual irregularities, infertility, and pregnancy complications. The analysis underscores critical shortcomings in the OSH Code’s practical enforcement and offers policy recommendations to strengthen occupational health protections for women. Enhanced training, rigorous enforcement of PPE use, regular health screenings, and gender-sensitive policies are among the key suggestions to mitigate health risks and bridge existing regulatory gaps. This research contributes to the discourse on gender, labour, and health in Indian agriculture, calling for urgent policy action to safeguard vulnerable female workers.