National Human Rights Commission has recommended Jharkhand Government to pay Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of 24 deceased workers who contracted silicosis due to inaction of the enforcement agencies of the state government.
The Commission has asked Jharkhand Government's Chief Secretary to submit a compliance report along with proof of payment within eight weeks.
"S C Sinha, Member of NHRC, while recommending so, set aside the contention of the State Government that it had constituted a committee under the chairmanship of a retired High Court Judge for formulation of guidelines and to recommend model calculation for compensation to the next of kin of deceased.
"He observed that since this matter pertains to the year 2007-08, it would not be appropriate to wait for the recommendations of the committee," a statement by the Commission said.
NHRC has also said that out of Rs 4 lakh rupees, a sum of Rs 2 lakh be given in cash and the remaining amount be kept in fixed deposit which will be available to the next of kin of the deceased in the shape of monthly interest.
"If the committee constituted by the state government comes to the conclusion that the amount awarded by the Commission is less than the amount recommended by the Commission, the state government will be at liberty to pay the additional amount," the statement said.
Apart from this, the Commission has recommended that 27 persons who have been identified to be suffering from silicosis should be provided medical card entitling them for free treatment in all the Government Hospitals of the state, till the committee appointed by the government comes out with a scheme for the relief and rehabilitation of these workers.
The persons, who are unemployed, should be provided employment under the MNREGA, NHRC said.
