Lok Sabha Question No. 3688 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Inspection of Mines
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3688 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## INSPECTION OF MINES

3688. SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether  it  is  true  that  over  2.3  lakh  people  employed  at  various  mining sites  are  at  the  risk  of  contracting  silicosis  and  there  are  over  44000 mines where 3.44 lakh labourers are working and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government conducts inspections at mines to ascertain any violation by the miners and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  it  is  also  true  that  only  14064  mines  were  inspected  against  a total number of 44000 mines in the country during the last five years; and (d)  if  so,  the  reasons  therefor  and  the  steps  taken/to  be  taken  by  the Government to inspect each and every mine in the country regularly?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a) & (b): On the basis of the data provided by various State Governments to  Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety  (DGMS)  under  Ministry  of  Labour  & Employment, 2.3 lakh people employed at various mine sites are estimated to be at the risk of contracting silicosis. Details of the same are at Annexure. There are 11935 mines covered as on date under the Shram Suvidha Portal of the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

Inspections of mines are carried out by DGMS to ascertain any violation in the Mines Act, 1952 and rules and regulations framed thereunder. During the year 2017, a total of 9711 inspections were done.

- (c) & (d): 14,827  mines  were  inspected  for  Silicosis  during  the  last  five years. DGMS  officers do random  inspections to check  the status of compliance of the statute. A special drive has been undertaken to complete the inspections of remaining mines with necessary assistance and help from the concerned state departments and district authorities.

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ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3688 FOR 19/03/2018 RAISED BY SHRI K ASHOK KUMAR REGARDING INSPECTION OF MINES.

Estimated  number  of  persons  at  Risks  of  Silicosis  based  on  information provided by various State Governments

| States         |   No. of workers at risk of silicosis |
|----------------|---------------------------------------|
| Andhra Pradesh |                                  3817 |
| Bihar          |                                    78 |
| Chhattisgarh   |                                   593 |
| Goa            |                                   195 |
| Gujarat        |                                 10258 |
| Haryana        |                                  1469 |
| Jharkhand      |                                 11221 |
| Karnataka      |                                  1081 |
| Kerala         |                                     0 |
| Madhya Pradesh |                                  5985 |
| Maharashtra    |                                  5727 |
| Odisha         |                                 22303 |
| Rajasthan      |                                140946 |
| Tamilnadu      |                                 18224 |
| Telangana      |                                  5354 |
| Uttar Pradesh  |                                  6916 |
| West Bengal    |                                  1154 |
| Daman and Diu  |                                   126 |
| Total          |                                235447 |

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