NHRC for imposing a cess on activities exploiting natural resources (25.07.2014)
Press Release
New Delhi, 25th July, 2014
The NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan today said that there should be a cess on mining and other such activities which exploit the natural resources so that money so collected could be spent 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.
Addressing the concluding session of a day-long National Conference on Silicosis, organized by the NHRC in New Delhi today, Justice Balakrishnan said that migrant labourers were the most vulnerable to this disease and suffered the most when they got affected with it as nobody would know about their whereabouts, leaving their families and dependents distraught.
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 so that remedial, relief and rehabilitation measures could be taken up.
Earlier, while inaugurating the Conference, Justice Balakrishnan had said that Governments had not done any surveys in this regard making it difficult for the Commission to pursue the issue of compensation to individuals as per the mandate given to it by the Supreme Court of India. He had also expressed his concern over the callous attitude of State Governments in dealing with silicosis which is incurable but preventable.
Several suggestions emerged during the deliberations which will be sent to the Government for implementation. Some of these are as follows:
" Issue of identity cards to workers is required so that the responsibility of employers can be ensured.
" 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.
" Need to adopt uniform diagnosis procedures across the country.
" Pollution from thermal power station across the country need to be brought under surveillance for risk to silicosis of not only workers but neighbouring population in residential areas.
" There is a need for X ray defraction instruments measurement of free silica in air.
" Amendment of mining and labour laws to give adequate powers/responsibility to State Governments in mine security and labour welfare.
" Need to notify dangerous manufacturing processes under Sections 85 and 87 of the Factories Act, 1948.
" Need to implement action plan suggested by the NHRC for preventive, remedial, rehabilitative and compensation aspect.
NHRC Members, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan and Mr. S.C. Sinha, senior officers, including, Mr. Rajesh Kishore, Secretary General, Mr. J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary 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.
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New Delhi, 25th July, 2014
The NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan today said that there should be a cess on mining and other such activities which exploit the natural resources so that money so collected could be spent 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.
Addressing the concluding session of a day-long National Conference on Silicosis, organized by the NHRC in New Delhi today, Justice Balakrishnan said that migrant labourers were the most vulnerable to this disease and suffered the most when they got affected with it as nobody would know about their whereabouts, leaving their families and dependents distraught.
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 so that remedial, relief and rehabilitation measures could be taken up.
Earlier, while inaugurating the Conference, Justice Balakrishnan had said that Governments had not done any surveys in this regard making it difficult for the Commission to pursue the issue of compensation to individuals as per the mandate given to it by the Supreme Court of India. He had also expressed his concern over the callous attitude of State Governments in dealing with silicosis which is incurable but preventable.
Several suggestions emerged during the deliberations which will be sent to the Government for implementation. Some of these are as follows:
" Issue of identity cards to workers is required so that the responsibility of employers can be ensured.
" 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.
" Need to adopt uniform diagnosis procedures across the country.
" Pollution from thermal power station across the country need to be brought under surveillance for risk to silicosis of not only workers but neighbouring population in residential areas.
" There is a need for X ray defraction instruments measurement of free silica in air.
" Amendment of mining and labour laws to give adequate powers/responsibility to State Governments in mine security and labour welfare.
" Need to notify dangerous manufacturing processes under Sections 85 and 87 of the Factories Act, 1948.
" Need to implement action plan suggested by the NHRC for preventive, remedial, rehabilitative and compensation aspect.
NHRC Members, Mr. Justice D. Murugesan and Mr. S.C. Sinha, senior officers, including, Mr. Rajesh Kishore, Secretary General, Mr. J.S. Kochher, Joint Secretary 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.
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