IIT Delhi Study Finds 55% Indian Truckers With Compromised Vision
Of the truck drivers, 44.3% exhibited borderline or above BMI, 57.4% had elevated blood pressure levels, and 18.4% showed borderline or high blood sugar levels.
About 55.1% of truck drivers in India have compromised vision, while 53.3% require distance vision correction and 46.7% need near-vision treatment, a new report released on Tuesday revealed.
The report prepared by IIT Delhi further said that about 44.3% of drivers exhibited borderline or above body mass index, 57.4% had elevated blood pressure levels, and 18.4% showed borderline or high blood sugar levels.
A total of 50,000 truck drivers in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were screened by IIT Delhi in collaboration with the Foresight Foundation.
According to the report, about 33.9 per cent of drivers reported moderate stress, while 2.9 per cent were found to have high-stress levels, emphasising the need for mental health support.
Releasing the report, Union Minister of Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari said, 'With 70 per cent of traffic on roads and logistics costs soaring at 14-16 per cent, India faces significant challenges in transportation'.
Gadkari further said a critical issue facing India's transportation sector is the shortage of drivers -- there are only 75 drivers for every 100 trucks.
'We are addressing this by focusing on driver training, wellbeing and we are committed to digitisation and app integration to improve their lives,' he added.
Trucks are the backbone of India's logistic sector, connecting regions across the country and bridging many modes of transport to complete the logistics cycle.
Truck drivers in India endure many challenges and a difficult lifestyle. Key issues include long working hours, irregular shifts, extended periods away from family and various health concerns.
