Dr. Monalisha Sahu: Championing Workplace Health and Safety in India

As an Associate Professor and Head of the Occupational Health Department in India’s oldest institution of its kind, I am committed to improving workplace safety and well-being for India’s workforce. My research focuses on occupational hazards, climate vulnerabilities, and mental health challenges faced by informal workers, including agricultural laborers, construction workers, artisans, and other marginalized groups.

Through my WINGS: Women’s Integration and Growth in Safe Healthcare Settings initiative, I advocate for safer workplaces, particularly for women in healthcare. My work integrates climate resilience strategies, traditional knowledge systems, and gender-sensitive occupational health policies to develop sustainable safety frameworks for the unorganized workforce.

By training young doctors to become occupational physicians and factory medical officers, I am shaping the future of workplace health in India. In collaboration with national and international agencies, I work to bridge research with action, ensuring that occupational health is recognized as a fundamental right. Strengthening workplace protections for India’s labor force is transformative—and together, we are building a more equitable and sustainable future.

Dr. Monalisha Sahu, MD

Associate Professor and Head

Department of Occupational Health

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Govt. of India