[Reader-list] On Silicosis in India

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Dear all,

In the wake of our May Day discussions, I thought it might be  
interesting for you all to read something that was forwarded to me  
this morning. It is about a disease called Silicosis. And it occurs  
as a result of work and labour.

best

Shuddha


> Subject: National Human Rights Commission Issued directions to  
> Central and State Governments to submit their reports on Silicosis
>
> Dated: 1 May 2008
>
> Respected Colleague
>
> National Human Rights Commission Issued directions to Central and  
> State Governments to submit their reports on Silicosis
>
>
> In a significant development on this important day, the five bench  
> members of the National Human Rights Commission issued directions  
> to all the state governments and some central government  
> departments like Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor and Mining  
> Ministry to prepare and present full fledge reports on silicosis  
> victims.
>
>
> The Hon'ble commission took this decision, while hearing to the  
> petition filed by Delhi based NGO PRASAR in NHRC on 13 June 2003,  
> seeking a comprehensive policy for the silicosis victims of the  
> country. Earlier the Hon'ble Commission also issued notice on 13  
> August 2003, to some state governments and concerned central  
> government ministries and even recommended the states to issue  
> notices under Section 85 of the Factories Act, so that enterprises  
> employing less than 10 labors also come under the purview of the act.
>
>
> The Hon'ble commission also fixed the time period of three weeks  
> for the state governments and concerned departments of central  
> governments those were present today to submit their reports.  
> Similarly directions were also being issued to the other state  
> governments those were not present today to submit their reports  
> within six weeks.
>
>
> Representatives of Khedut Majdur Sang of Madhya Pradesh, PTRC of  
> Gujarat and OSHAJ of Jharkhand and few other NGOs from different  
> parts of the country, who are working for the plights of the  
> silicosis victims, were also present during the hearing. Most  
> importantly some silicosis victims and the family members of the  
> silicosis deceased families were also presented their grievances to  
> the commission.
>
>
> "Silicosis, one of the oldest occupational diseases, is an  
> incurable lung disease caused by inhalation of dust containing free  
> crystalline silica. Silica is the second most common mineral in the  
> earth's crust and is a major component of sand, rock, and mineral  
> ores. Overexposure to dust that contains microscopic particles of  
> crystalline silica can cause scar tissue to form in the lungs,  
> which reduces the lungs' ability to extract oxygen from the air we  
> breathe. It is a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung  
> disease. It progresses even when exposure stops. In addition to  
> Silicosis, inhalation of crystalline silica particles has been  
> associated with other diseases, such as Bronchitis and Tuberculosis".
>
>
> Lakhs of workers in India, majority of who are in unorganized  
> sector, encounter high-risk silica exposures. Some examples of the  
> industries and activities that pose the greatest potential risk for  
> worker exposure include: construction, stone cutting, glass  
> manufacturing, mining, agriculture, shipbuilding, ceramics, clay,  
> and pottery, railroad, manufacturing of soaps and detergents etc.   
> However unfortunately silicosis was completely sidetracked and  
> hardly any steps were taken to cure the menace arise out from this  
> diseases.
>
> We have also raised the plights and concerns of the silicosis  
> victims in various forums. As a result of which even the Supreme  
> Court of India has also intervened in this issues and notice being  
> served to some state governments. Further Delhi Government has  
> initiated some important steps to rehabilitate the Silicosis  
> victims of Lal Kuan, Delhi area. Even a national workshop was  
> convened in Mumbai to develop strategies in this regard in December  
> 2007.
>
>
> It is requested that those organizations – NGOs, CBOs, Trade Unions  
> and individuals working in the following sectors, viz. mining,  
> stone crushing, glass, gems & jewellery and others shall also come  
> forward for providing information, filing complaints regarding  
> occupational health (silicosis). The organizations can directly  
> send their complaints to NHRC or to PRASAR to follow up with the  
> commission and further facilitation in this matter. This is an  
> opportune time when the central and state governments have heard  
> the matter of occupational health (silicosis) in a positive way and  
> has given directions to concerned ministries and departments to  
> file their replies in a stipulated time frame.
>
>
> You are requested to quickly respond and take action as the date of  
> next hearing is proposed to be held in the first week of June.  
> Kindly circulate this mail to other organizations /individuals in  
> your network so that a collective effort is taken ahead.
>
>
> For sending your complaints/response to the NHRC, kindly send  
> letter to the Chairperson, NHRC.
>
> Address of NHRC
>
> NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
> Faridkot House,Copernicus Marg,
> New Delhi-110001, India
>
> Or,
>
> PRASAR
>
> G – 12, 462A
>
> Sangam Vihar
>
> New Delhi – 110 062
>
>
> For Further Information please contact:
>
>
> S.A. Azad (09811914329)
>
> E Mail: prasar21@ gmail.com
>
> -- 
> S A Azad
> "PRASAR"
> 09811914329

Shuddhabrata Sengupta
The Sarai Programme at CSDS
Raqs Media Collective
shuddha at sarai.net
www.sarai.net
www.raqsmediacollective.net