Silicosis Meeting
The meeting of the Task Force on Silicosis held in September, 2007 decided that Smt. Aruna Sharma, Joint Secretary, NHRC and Shri R.K. Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment would work out together on the details regarding the format of survey and pre-survey meeting with all the State Governments. Following this a meeting on Silicosis was held in the Commission on October 29, 2007.
The Joint Secretary, NHRC Smt. Aruna Sharma, while discussing the proforma said that a list of engineering measures should be indicated to minimize dust level alongwith the tolerable limits of dust level. She further stated that a list of preventive methods be also enclosed along with the proforma. While discussing the issue of identification of pockets of silicosis, it was decided that Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, NGO, could be requested to identify the pockets. The issue of awarding compensation to the people affected by silicosis was also discussed. It was suggested that the Director General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) could provide a list of confirmed cases of Silicosis, which the Commission could take up as an individual complaint. After extensive deliberations it was decided that DGFASLI would finalize the questionnaire and send it to the Commission by November 15, 2007; a pre-survey workshop may be organized in the last week of November 2007; DGFASLI would send to the Commission a list of identified cases of silicosis in one week. The Commission may take up the issue for recommending necessary relief to the victims. The Ministry of Labour and Employment could be consulted in this regard. The Commission may request Jan Swasthya Abhiyan to conduct the survey regarding the pockets of silicosis and identification of victims.
The Joint Secretary, NHRC Smt. Aruna Sharma, while discussing the proforma said that a list of engineering measures should be indicated to minimize dust level alongwith the tolerable limits of dust level. She further stated that a list of preventive methods be also enclosed along with the proforma. While discussing the issue of identification of pockets of silicosis, it was decided that Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, NGO, could be requested to identify the pockets. The issue of awarding compensation to the people affected by silicosis was also discussed. It was suggested that the Director General Factory Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) could provide a list of confirmed cases of Silicosis, which the Commission could take up as an individual complaint. After extensive deliberations it was decided that DGFASLI would finalize the questionnaire and send it to the Commission by November 15, 2007; a pre-survey workshop may be organized in the last week of November 2007; DGFASLI would send to the Commission a list of identified cases of silicosis in one week. The Commission may take up the issue for recommending necessary relief to the victims. The Ministry of Labour and Employment could be consulted in this regard. The Commission may request Jan Swasthya Abhiyan to conduct the survey regarding the pockets of silicosis and identification of victims.