Finally after years of wait, continuous appeals, and ground level follow up by our Barefoot health volunteers, we are pleased to announce that compensation has been sanctioned for the families of three deceased mine workers belonging to Gond Adivasis in Panna, Madhya Pradesh.
While we thank the department of labour, Panna for announcing this compensation and the doctors of the PHC for diagnosis and certificates to 9 workers, we hope that the labour department responds to the remaining workers who are eligible for compensation and rehabilitation. We urge the two departments to help conduct adequate medical tests for those suffering from silicosis symptoms and to extend prompt rehabilitation.
Without rehabilitation and preventive measures to first address Silicosis, eradication of Tuberculosis among mine worker communities will be far fetched. We appeal to the government of Madhya Pradesh to combine the TB free Tribal India programme with Silicosis prevention and rehabilitation.
Silicosis is an incurable occupational lung disease contracted by workers, as a result of silica dust inhalation in industries such as mining, glass cutting, bangle making, construction and a host of other hazardous industries. In its recent judgement, the Supreme Court of India in PRASAR and Others Vs the Union of India, has directed the NHRC to monitor the rehabilitation of Silicosis affected workers.