Mehta, ManjuSarita Devi2019-06-212019-06-212018http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810109429The rural women play an important role in all types of household, farm and allied activities but were deprived from most of the privileges of life. There is no change in involvement pattern of women in household and animal husbandry activities in respect to change in season. The study was conducted in randomly selected one block I of Hisar district of Haryana state. From the selected block I, Dabra village was randomly selected as the locale of the study. Ninety households were selected randomly and female head of the household was the sample of the study. A sample of 20 women, who were willing to cooperate were selected purposively for phase III. It was found that maximum of them were in the age group of 41-60 yr (56.7%), belonged to general category (91.1%), were illiterate (62.2%), farming was family occupation (62.2%), had low family education status (46.7%) and nuclear families (57.8%) with medium size family (46.7%). They had pakka house (68.9%) with covered kitchen (66.7%). Most of them had less than 2.5 acre of land (40.0%) and earned between Rs.10,000- 30,000 (68.9%). Majority of respondents were having buffalo (54.5%) which was kept bada (71.1%) of size upto 100sq.m. dung was collected by 90% of home maker and other female twice a day (82.2%) and they prepared dung cake (91.1%) to save money and were using Tasla & Indi for dung collection, respondents covered distance around 750 mt for dung transportation. 43.3% of women carried 10-20 kg dung per trip and spending 1-2 hr. Most of the women were exhausted after dung collection activity (83%). 18 percent felt pain in mid back and lower back and recovery of pain was in around 15 min (64.1%). Around one third was anemic (31.4%) and having joint problem (23.5%). In dung collection activity back bending posture, in lifting and carrying activity both hand and in disposal of dung neck bending posture using both hands was used by all. During collection and carrying of dung distance of 293.21m and 523.22 m. was travelled and carried dung weighing 17.6 kg. A slight extension was observed in the lower lumbar region (3.27%) and flexion in the cervical region (2.79%) of the respondents, putting undue stress on the women. Rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) score and Ovako working posture analysis system (OWAS) score was highest in collection activity which depicts it required corrective measures immediately in the posture used. There was decrease grip strength of 23.65 percent and 18.59 percent in right the left hand respectively. Body part discomfort (BPDS) was chiefly found in upper and lower back (4.44 each) followed by mid back (4) and least in knees (1.33). The activity of carrying dung got VAD score of (4.5) and least was for the disposal of dung activity (2.3) and repetitive strain score was highest in dung collection activity i.e.10 and least in disposal i.e.2.3. Hence as per the phase II, collection activity had highest biomechanical stress so a tool was developed to combat biomechanical stress in dung collection. The tool was named as Ergo Dung Collector. There was 23.05% decrease in biomechanical stress with the use of ergo dung collector. Ergo dung collector was acceptable and found to be highly feasible in handling and also physically compatible practicable and cultural compatible.enThesis