The family members of 24 workers, who had contracted silicosis and succumbed to the disease, have won their fight for justice after about a decade. The State Government has announced compensation of Rs4 lakh each to the victims of silicosis disease who died in Jamshedpur during 2007-2008. Taking a serious note of the matter, the Government has announced the compensation for the family members of the victims. The Government has assigned a fund of Rs1 crore to meet the compensation.
When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum Amitabh Kaushal welcomed the decision and said that the National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC), New Delhi, had sought a detailed report on the matter last year and after which the administration forwarded the details of the victims and the commission gave orders for compensation. “We had sent a detailed report of the status of workers affected from the disease to NHRC after which Jharkhand Government was recommended to pay compensation to the next of kin of workers who contracted silicosis,” said Kaushal.
An official of the district health department said that the deaths took place during the year 2007 08. labourers who were working in crusher plant in East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan got affected with the disease. According to information, a total of 24 workers from Musabani block of East Singhbhum died due to silicosis during 2007 and 2008. The victims used to work in stone crushers that work for the K.K. Mineral factory and its sister concern units. Most of these plants have now been shut in the district after orders from Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board( JSPCB).
RN Chowdhury, the regional officer of JSPCB, said that several plants flouting norms have been shut.” The board is concerned over rising pollution in the industrial area. We want to tighten the noose of those units who are flouting the norms and it has been made mandatory for the units to take NOC from the pollution board before setting crusher plant. When contacted, Manoj Mishra, chief of Jharkhand Human Rights Commission, welcomed the decision of the State Government to provide compensation but said that action should also be taken against those flouting norms of pollution board in such plants .
He said that Silicosis is the oldest known occupational disease and it is caused due to inhaling particles of silica. Mishra said that the State Government must ensure that the companies set up Occupational Health Centres across the State. The workers are exposed to occupational hazards in different areas. “As per our information in Jharkhand about 25-30 lakh workers are affected by silicosis. In such situation health centres are important to ensure rehabilitation of those affected,” he noted. Meanwhile, a city-based physician Dr UK Srivastava said that Silicosis is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust. Silicosis can be caused by a minimum of seven microns of silica dust. It makes lungs non-functional.