SOCIAL IMPACT OF ENERGY CRISIS ON SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN DISTRICT SWAT

Abstract

Electricity is considered as the backbone for the economy’s prosperity, progress and plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of a nation. With rapid development and technological innovations, the utilization of energy resources has also mounted due to which the demand for energy has increased instantaneously, while resources have been squeezed, consequently massive power outages have been observed in the country. As a result, it has severely affected the overall sector of the country, especially the industries and their laborers as well. This study investigates social impact of energy crisis on small scale industrial workers in District Swat. A pure qualitative approach has been adopted and the data was collected from 30 male respondents (two each of Marble, Plastic, Garments, Silks and Cosmetics industries). Interview guide was used as a tool of data collection where open ended question regarding the social impact of the respondents were asked and were thematically analyzed. Further, a descriptive discussion was made supported by secondary data. Results of the study show that agonizing power cut have decreased the working hours of the laborers, industrial productions have fallen to a great extent and as a result, the industrial workforce has been decreased up to maximum extent. Further, it was difficult for the workers to maintain their family expenditures and activities of daily lives consequently, their children socialization and education. The government shall be practical towards the development of power sector and the industrial sectors may be declared exempt of load shedding throughout the country.