Lok Sabha Question No. 2769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Silicosis in Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: TAMRADHWAJ SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2769 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2017

## SILICOSIS IN WORKERS

†2769. SHRI TAMRADHWAJ SAHU:

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

- (a)whether  there  is  an  order  to  take  up  regular  health  check  up  of labourers working in the mines of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  tribal  labourers  are  reportedly  suffering  from  silicosis (disease of lungs) in Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and a number of persons have died due to this disease during the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof, State/UTwise; and
- (c)the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  to  check  this  disease  in  the mines  in  the  country  including  Chhattisgarh  and  the  number  of families to whom compensation has been provided during the said period?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): The Mines Rule,  1955  and  the  Metalliferous  Mines  Regulations, 1961  framed  under  the  Mines  Act,  1952  stipulates  the  following provisions  to  monitor  occupational  diseases  of  persons  employed  in mines:-
- (i) Initial  Medical  Examinations of persons to be employed in mines  and  Periodical  Medical  Examinations  of  persons already employed in mines at an interval of 5 years.
- (ii) Engineering control measures on prevention and generation of air-borne dust at workplace are also made  under Regulation 124 of the Metalliferous Mines Regulation, 1961.

It  is  the  duty  of  the  mine  management  to  comply  with  the  above provisions in their respective mines.

The  status  of  compliance  of  the  above  said  provisions  are overseen by officers of Directorate General Mines Safety (DGMS) under Ministry of Labour & Employment during the course of inspections and enquiries. Suitable measures as provided under law are taken.

- (b): As per the information received from DGMS, no cases of silicosis and  death  case  has  been  reported  from  mines  in  Jhabua  district  of Madhya  Pradesh  and  Chhattisgarh  state  during  last  three  years including current year.
- (c): (i)  To address the silicosis related health issues of stone mines and quarries workers of unorganized sector situated in different part of the countries, a project on 'Multicentric Dust Related Disease in Stone Mines  and  Development  of  Sustainable  Preventive  Programme'  has been  undertaken  jointly  by  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  and Ministry  of  Mines  in  collaboration  with  National  Institute  of  Miner's Health (NIMH)(An Autonomous Institute under Ministry of Mines). NIMH has already undertaken the study during the financial year 2015-16 in Nalgonda district of Telangana state and Jodhpur & Dholpur districts of Rajasthan state during the financial year 2016-17.
- (ii)  As  per  the  directives  of  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  DGMS  has conducted 64 awareness camps in 32 districts of the country with the help  of  the  state  government  to  bring  awareness  among  the  mine owners and mine workers about silicosis, and measures available for protection against silicosis including the use of protective gear.

Also,  occupational  health  survey  of  5045  persons  employed  in  unorganised sector mines in different states of the country like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat has been conducted,  wherein  a  total  number  of  3989  persons  have  been medically examined.

- (iii) As per the survey conducted by NIMH in the states of Telangana, and  different  districts  of  Rajasthan,  a  total  number  of  1056  persons have  been  medically  examined  and  96  persons  have  been  found reportedly suffering from Silicosis. The case document on confirmation is sent to the Compensation Commissioner of the respective states for further action.

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