Meeting of the National Task Force on Silicosis
The first meeting of the National Task Force on Silicosis was held on September 6, 2007, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Justice Shivaraj V. Patil, Member NHRC. At the outset Dr. Patil stressed the need for broad based efforts for awareness, prevention, treatment and compensation or remedial measures in order to address Silicosis. He stressed the need to prepare a comprehensive report on this subject which could be adopted by the Commission and recommendations could be made to all competent authorities.
After reviewing the composition of the National Task Force on Silicosis, it was decided to add DG, Directorate General of Factory Advice Safety & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai and Secretary, Small Scale Industries, Government of India as Members; after detailed discussion on inputs from other sections, it was decided to consult NGOs on the ground situation at a separate meeting; it was also decided to meet 5-6 employers organizations and ten Central Trade Union organizations for their inputs on Silicosis; it was recognized that States had to assume primary responsibility in this regard.
Smt. Sudha Pillai, Secretary, Labour and Shri S.K. Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Labour apprised the meeting about the one day National Worshop on Silicosis organized by their Ministry which reviewed inter-alia National Survey on dust levels, model rules, medical examination, operations, processes, exhaust arrangements.
Shri H.C. Gupta, Secretary Coal, Government of India apprised the meeting of steps being taken by the Ministry concerning Prevention, Detection and Rehabilitation of workers affected by Pneumoconiosis in coal mines. The situation regarding notification of Silicosis under Section 85 of the Factories Act was reviewed. Joint Secretary, Labour informed that his Ministry would follow up with those States which have not yet notified it; in so far as identification of pockets affects by Silicosis is concerned, the Ministry of Labour will devise a proforma for collecting this information from 26 major States excepting certain minor States and UTs like Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. He said after receiving replies from all these 26 States, the gravity of problem could be known.
The meeting recognized inadequate information base on Silicosis and the need to upgrade it through survey. Shri R.K. Bhargava, Secretary General, NHRC, mentioned that most information is brushed under carpet owing to migration of labour.
It was recognized that a survey was necessary for sound data base. The State Governments must undertake this survey either themselves or get this done by engaging public or private research institutions. It was decided that a comprehensive form which covers all information required on Silicosis will be made available by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour to NHRC which will then be circulated to all members of the National Task Force on Silicosis for their comments; the proforma for survey should focus on the preventive mechanisms of State Governments. The importance of consultation with State Governments was recognized. The Secretary, Labour suggested that once the format for the survey was finalized, a pre-survey meeting with all State Governments could be held. The pre-survey meeting could be jointly organized by the Ministry of Labour and NHRC.
It was stressed that the involvement of Panchayats in monitoring health related aspects relating to silicosis could be considered; the representative of Gujarat apprised the participants about the engineering controls used by the stone crushing factories in Godhra region, Gujarat. As a result, no case of Silicosis in the stone crushing factories of Gujarat was reported after 2004. He was requested to give a copy of the design and write up to the Commission to enable its replication in other States.
After reviewing the composition of the National Task Force on Silicosis, it was decided to add DG, Directorate General of Factory Advice Safety & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI), Mumbai and Secretary, Small Scale Industries, Government of India as Members; after detailed discussion on inputs from other sections, it was decided to consult NGOs on the ground situation at a separate meeting; it was also decided to meet 5-6 employers organizations and ten Central Trade Union organizations for their inputs on Silicosis; it was recognized that States had to assume primary responsibility in this regard.
Smt. Sudha Pillai, Secretary, Labour and Shri S.K. Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Labour apprised the meeting about the one day National Worshop on Silicosis organized by their Ministry which reviewed inter-alia National Survey on dust levels, model rules, medical examination, operations, processes, exhaust arrangements.
Shri H.C. Gupta, Secretary Coal, Government of India apprised the meeting of steps being taken by the Ministry concerning Prevention, Detection and Rehabilitation of workers affected by Pneumoconiosis in coal mines. The situation regarding notification of Silicosis under Section 85 of the Factories Act was reviewed. Joint Secretary, Labour informed that his Ministry would follow up with those States which have not yet notified it; in so far as identification of pockets affects by Silicosis is concerned, the Ministry of Labour will devise a proforma for collecting this information from 26 major States excepting certain minor States and UTs like Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. He said after receiving replies from all these 26 States, the gravity of problem could be known.
The meeting recognized inadequate information base on Silicosis and the need to upgrade it through survey. Shri R.K. Bhargava, Secretary General, NHRC, mentioned that most information is brushed under carpet owing to migration of labour.
It was recognized that a survey was necessary for sound data base. The State Governments must undertake this survey either themselves or get this done by engaging public or private research institutions. It was decided that a comprehensive form which covers all information required on Silicosis will be made available by Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour to NHRC which will then be circulated to all members of the National Task Force on Silicosis for their comments; the proforma for survey should focus on the preventive mechanisms of State Governments. The importance of consultation with State Governments was recognized. The Secretary, Labour suggested that once the format for the survey was finalized, a pre-survey meeting with all State Governments could be held. The pre-survey meeting could be jointly organized by the Ministry of Labour and NHRC.
It was stressed that the involvement of Panchayats in monitoring health related aspects relating to silicosis could be considered; the representative of Gujarat apprised the participants about the engineering controls used by the stone crushing factories in Godhra region, Gujarat. As a result, no case of Silicosis in the stone crushing factories of Gujarat was reported after 2004. He was requested to give a copy of the design and write up to the Commission to enable its replication in other States.