JAIPUR | Jul 14, 2015: Rajasthan High Court has asked the state and Central government to submit detailed report on the prevalence of silicosis among mine workers in the state.
The division bench of Justice Ajit Singh and A S Grewal made state chief secretary, principal secretaries of medical and health, mines, labour and Union health ministry a party to the petition. The court has taken suo motto cognizance of a report sent by Ashwin Upreti of Rajiv Gandhi National Law University Punjab.
The report said the silicosis condition in Rajasthan is alarming. It said about 30 lakh unorgansied workers are employed in mining and construction field who are the most susceptible to silicosis. He said except Rs 2 lakh compensation paid in case of silicosis death from government there is no other social security for these workers. There are no facilities to diagnose and treat the disease at the district hospitals, he said.
The court asked both the state and Centre to submit detailed report on the steps taken to prevent the disease and submit any study conducted on the condition of the workers engaged in mining and construction activities.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)