National Human Rights Commission Chairperson K G Balakrishnan today observed that states are not serious in dealing with silicosis and pitched for a separate law to ensure implementation of preventive measures to protect workers from the disease.
"State governments were not serious enough in dealing with silicosis, a disease of lungs caused due to inhalation of silica in dust which is incurable but preventable. Silicosis is prevalent in almost all states though they do not maintain an authentic data on the exact number of affected persons," he said while noting that the callous attitude of state governments is a cause of concern for the NHRC.
He was speaking while inaugurating a day-long National Conference on Silicosis organised by the NHRC at India International Centre in New Delhi.
Balakrishnan said that the occupational hazards of silicosis are preventable if the working conditions are properly regulated and adequate warning and protective equipment are used. But the employers are not putting them to practice.
"There should be a separate law to ensure implementation of preventive measures to protect workers from silicosis," he said.
The former Chief Justice rued that lakhs of workers might have been affected by silicosis while working in quarries, stone crushing units, mines, glass cutting factories, sand blasting, construction, gem cutting industries and ceramic industries, but the Government has not done any survey to find out the authentic number of the victims of silicosis.
"Therefore, it is 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 said.
He said that it was of utmost importance for the states to develop capacity building, especially in healthcare, to identify the patients of silicosis for remedial, relief and rehabilitative measures.
Underscoring the problems of migrant workers, he said that they were the most vulnerable to this disease.
NHRC Members and senior officers, representatives of central and state governments, Union Territory Administrations, National Commissions, State Human Rights Commissions, health experts and scientists as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations working in the field of silicosis attended this conference.
