New Delhi, 22nd July, 2016
A day-long conference organized by the National Human Rights Commission on silicosis for endemic States ended making several suggestions to ameliorate the cause of millions of workers who due to exposure to silica dust fall victim to silicosis, which is an incurable disease of lungs and often confused with tuberculosis. It was felt that the States needed to be more proactive and consistent in implementing the recommendations given by the NHRC to address the issue of silicosis.
It also felt that a lot still needs to be done by the governments to bridge the gap between the intent, policies and delivery to prevent the causes of this disease among the workers in mines, quartz industry, construction sites, gem cutting, stone crushing, glass manufacturing, slate, ceramic and pencil industries.
Their identification, medical and monetary relief and rehabilitation related issues are not getting properly addressed due the lack of uniformity in approach and coordination within various concerned government agencies including health, mines and labour departments. The diagnosis of silicosis is not easy and there is still no survey done to find the exact number of persons affected with silicosis, though on the basis of some samples, it is believed that a large number of workers, in the silica generating vocations, are affected by it in different States and particularly those wherein mining is being done on a large scale. These include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Earlier, inaugurating the conference, Mr. Justice Cyriac Joseph, Member, NHRC said that building awareness about silicosis among legislators and parliamentarians is necessary to help them make laws and rules. At the same time, he said that it is expected that they also acquaint themselves with the ground situation, studies and recommendations by the State Human Rights Commissions and the National Human Rights Commission about this life threatening disease through the reports submitted to State Assemblies and Parliament.
Justice Cyriac Joseph said that the legislators and parliamentarians can question the governments on non-implementation of the recommendations by Human Rights Commissions, to make them more effective even if they remain as recommendatory bodies for the protection and promotion of human rights as per the Protection of Human Rights Act passed by Parliament. He said that interaction with District collectors and doctors about the various aspects of silicosis is also very necessary to spread awareness and to understand their problems in dealing with this disease.
Mr. Balvinder Kumar, Secretary, Union Ministry of Mines said that 40 per cent workers in Rajasthan were suffering from silicosis and efforts were needed to be made on a wider scale, which as of now are not sufficient, to check the spread of silica dust. Mr. P.P. Mitra, Principal Labour & Employment Advisor, Union Ministry of Labour & Employment said that the State governments are not addressing the issue of silicosis with the required attention. The scale of mining needs to be brought down.
Shri S. N. Mohanty, Secretary General, NHRC, highlighted the efforts of the National Human Rights Commission to address the concerns relating to silicosis and several recommendations made by it in this regard to the governments.
The day long discussion included participants from the concerned departments of Union and State governments as well as the representatives from NGOs working in the field of silicosis apart from the senior officers of the NHRC and State Human Rights Commissions.

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