New Delhi | July 24, 2016: The National Human Rights Commission has urged states and Union territories to undertake a concerted exercise to combat the growing problem of silicosis.

At a daylong conference on Friday with representatives from states and Union territories, NHRC senior member Justice (retd) Cyriac Joseph called for urgent steps to take up the cause of millions of workers who fall victim to the incurable lung disease because of exposure to silica dust.

Several speakers said a lot still needed to be done to bridge the gap between intent, policies and action taken to prevent the causes of this disease among workers in mines, the quartz industry, construction sites, and the gem-cutting, stone-crushing, glass-manufacturing, slate, ceramic and pencil industries.

It was felt that proper identification of the victims and medical, monetary relief and rehabilitation-related issues were not being properly addressed because of the lack of uniformity in approach and coordination among various government agencies, including the departments of health, mines and labour.

The NHRC member lamented that till date there had been no proper survey to find the exact number of affected persons, though many were estimated to be affected in different states, particularly those where mining was being carried out on a large scale.

These states include Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Jharkhand.

Earlier, inaugurating the conference, Justice Joseph said that building awareness about silicosis among legislators and parliamentarians was necessary to help them make laws and rules to combat the menace.

Balvinder Kumar, secretary, Union ministry of mines, said that 40 per cent of workers in Rajasthan were suffering from silicosis and efforts were needed to be made on a wider scale to check the spread of silica dust.

P.P. Mitra, principal labour and employment advisor, Union ministry of labour and employment, said state governments were not addressing the issue with the attention that was required.

S.N. Mohanty, secretary general, NHRC, highlighted the efforts of the rights commission to address the concerns relating to silicosis and the several recommendations it has made to governments.

The daylong discussion included participants from the departments concerned of the Union and state governments, representatives from NGOs and senior officers of the NHRC and state rights commissions.

(Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/)