NHRC Identifies SILICOSIS as serious issue of Human Rights Violation. PDF Print E-mail
Sunday, 11 March 2007

Jagdish Patel

 NHRC Identifies SILICOSIS as serious issue of Human Rights Violation.   On 6th March NHRC organized reveiw of the Halth Status with refernce to its recommendations in 2005.   In Public hearing on Denial to health care held at Bhopal in 2004, as member of Gujarat JSA, PTRC had made representation on Silicosis deaths among Agate workers. One of the victims MAheshbhai personally came to Bhopal for representation.Maheshbhai died of Silicosis in December, 2006.

No particular recommnedation was made by NHRC in this regrard. PTRC had requested for various actions which can be taken upby Health deptt og State. Though no concrete steps were taken with referecne to our demands, State health deptt helped hospital admission for Silicosis sufferers, organize diagnosis camp an Jhalod in Nov.2004, Health Commissioner visited some units in Godhra with PTRC representative and Godhra Collctor.   Because of many representation NHRC may have received in the meanwhile when large numbers of deaths in MP were reported, during this review NHRC included Silicoisis in its agenda. Dr.Abhay Shukla,National Conveneor of JSA gave information about the studies carried out by JSA memebrs on Silicosis in Gujarta  and MP, in his main presentation in inagural plenary, which set the tone. Later, during open discussion Dr.Ashish Gupta, Jagdish PAtel and others made the demands and status clearer. NHRC had inviteed representative of Lanour ministry also.The representative defended saying  there are adwquate legal provisions to protecrt workers form Silicosis.   In the post lunch session the Sates were divided in two groups. In both the groups the issue was again discussed, though the time was a great constraint and we could not express everythign which we had wanted.PTRCV submited the State and NHRC copy of the handout of PPT presentation and copy of the film Way to dusty Death.   I demanded for ratification of ILO 155 and also made it clear that the issue should be looke dinti larger perspective of Occupational Helath and this is one of the important health issue.Ministry of Helath must have its plans to reduce burden of Occ.diseases.   In the concluding remarks in the lat plenary sesion Chair person of NHRC declared that NHRC has identified issue of Silcisis as one of the serious issues. It will invtie other ministries like labor and Industry to resolve.   We have to build the movement on this achievement now.
 
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