Important Interventions




Rupees 40 lakhs to the families of victims of silicosis
(Case No. 1209/25/15/2014) & (Case No. 302/25/3/2012)
The National Human Rights Commission has recommended in two cases that the Government of West Bengal pay Rs. 4 lakhs each to the next of kin of 10 workers, who had contracted silicosis and died after inhaling silica dust while working at stone crushing factories in West Bengal during 2012-2013. The Commission directed that this amount would include Rs. 2 lakh, which the State Government was already contemplating to pay to the next of kin of the 10 victims of silicosis. The Commission has observed that from the records, it was clear that these workers had died due to the carelessness and negligence of the enforcement agencies of the Government of West Bengal, who had not ensured that the factory management provided necessary protective equipments for the protection of workers from silica dust. There is no cure for silicosis but it can be prevented by taking certain precautions to ensure that silica in the dust is not inhaled. The Commission also asked the State Government to equip its rural and ESI hospitals with a specialist doctor and (at least 300 amp x-ray machine) to diagnose silicosis. The Commission also directed the State Government to close all illegally running stone crushing units.