Gender wise cost of illness: a case study of Jajmau, Kanpur

Leather industry is one of the top ten foreign exchange earning industry for India and Kanpur Leather Cluster holds an important place in the world export scenario. But, it is also one of the most hazardous industries and has thus resulted in various environmental problems in the area. This paper attempts to analyse the economic burden of industrial pollution on health of the households in the study area and to assess the gender based disparity among them on the basis of cost of illness. For this, a study has been conducted inn Jajmau Leather industrial area, Kanpur. Gender disparity was found not only in occurrence of diseases, but also in their treatment and its costs. In case of neurological and respiratory diseases, percentage of males is higher as compared to that of females. In case of skin diseases and eye infections, the percentage of females suffering from disease is higher. There was significant difference found among the indirect and direct costs between males and females. Main causes of these disparities are different nature of jobs for males and females, difference in incomes and ability to pay for the treatment.