The National Human Rights Commission organised a day-long National Conference on Silicosis at India International Centre in New Delhi on the 25th July, 2014. Addressing the Conference, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC said that there should be a cess on mining and other such activities which involved exploitation of the natural resources so that a corpus could be generated to spend on the welfare of the workers engaged in such vocations.
He said that lakhs of workers, might have caught silicosis, an incurable lung disorder, while working in quarries, stone crushing units, mines, glass cutting factories, sand blasting, construction, gem cutting industries, ceramic industries and they needed remedial, relief and rehabilitative support. But the Governments had not done any surveys to know the number of persons afflicted with silicosis making it difficult for the NHRC to pursue the issue of compensation to individuals as per the mandate given to it by the Supreme Court of India. He also expressed his concern over the callous attitude of State Governments in dealing with silicosis which is incurable but preventable.
Justice Balakrishnan said that migrant labourers were the most vulnerable to silicosis and suffered the most when affected with it, as nobody would know about their whereabouts, leaving their families and dependents distraught. He said that there should be a separate law to ensure implementation of preventive measures to protect workers from silicosis.
It was felt during the Conference that a uniform diagnostic procedure was needed to be adopted throughout the country to diagnose silicosis for which every District Hospital should be properly equipped. The Governments needed to conduct authentic surveys to identify the exact number of persons affected with silicosis.
Several other suggestions emerged during the deliberations which will be sent to the Government for implementation. Some of these are as follows:
o Issue of identity cards to workers is required so that the responsibility of employers can be ensured.
o Silicosis/Pneumonocosis Boards should be established in each State which could be a one window for ensuring necessary relief and rehabilitation measures to affected workers.
o Pollution from thermal power station across the country need to be brought under surveillance to check risk to silicosis to not only to the workers but also to the neighbouring population in the residential areas.
o There is a need for X ray defraction instruments for measurement of free silica in air.
o Amendment of mining and labour laws to give adequate powers/responsibility to State Governments in mine security and labour welfare.
o Need to notify dangerous manufacturing processes under Sections 85 and 87 of the Factories Act, 1948.
o Need to implement action plan suggested by the NHRC for preventive, remedial, rehabi-litative and compensation aspect.
NHRC Members, Justice Shri D. Murugesan and Shri S.C. Sinha, senior officers, including, Shri Rajesh Kishore, Secretary General, Shri J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary, Dr. Savita Bhakhry, Joint Director (Research), representatives of Central and State Governments, Union Territory Administrations, National Commissions, State Human Rights Commissions, Health Experts and Scientists, representatives of non-governmental organizations working in the field of silicosis participated in the discussions.