Lok Sabha Question No. 310 (STARRED), answered on 2019-07-15
Subject: Health of Workers in Mines
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 310 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.07.2019

Health of Workers in MINES

†*310.  SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

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

(a)the rules pertaining to the health of workers working in the mines; (b)the types of diseases the mining workers are likely to suffer from; (c)the scheme  formulated  by  the Government  for  the labourers suffering from such diseases; and (d)the types of hospital set up for the treatment of mining workers?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) to (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 310 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.07.2019 RAISED BY SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI REGARDING HEALTH OF

WORKERS IN MINES

- (a): The  Mines  Act,  1952  Chapter  II  and  Chapter  V  covers provisions  for  health  and  safety  of  workmen  and  Mines  Rules,  1955 framed thereunder provides for adequate provisions under Rule 29B of Chapter  IVA  (Medical  examination  of  persons  employed  or  to  be employed  in  mines),  Rule  30  and  31(Drinking  Water),  Rule  33  -38 (Conservancy) under Chapter V (Health and sanitation provisions) and Rules 40-45A under Chapter VI (First-aid medical appliances) pertaining to the health of workers in the mines.
- (b): The  types  of  diseases  the  mining  workers  likely  to  suffer are: (i) Silicosis (ii) Pneumoconiosis (iii) Manganese Poisoning (Nervous type) (iv) Asbestosis (v). Contact dermatitis caused by direct contact with chemicals (vi) Noise Induced Hearing Loss (vii) Pathological manifestations due to Radium or Radioactive substances and (viii) Cancer of lung or the stomach or pleura and peritoneum (i.e. mesothelioma) which have been notified under the Mines Act, 1952.
- (c) & (d): The Mines Act, 1952 provides for initial medical examination  before  employment  and  periodical  medical  examination after  every  five  years  of  the  persons  employed  in  mines.  In  case  of persons  employed  in  Asbestos  mines,  interval  of  periodical  medical examination is 3 years.

The Mines Act, 1952 provides for a mechanism for looking into  the  health  aspects  of  the  workers  found  medically  unfit  like medical  treatment  at  the  cost  of  mine  management  with  full  wages during the period of treatment, alternative employment in the mine or disability allowance. Further where such person decides to leave his employment in the mine, he shall be paid by the mine management a lump sum amount by way of disability compensation.

Rule 82A of the Mines Rules, 1955 states that the compensation  is admissible under the provisions of Employee's Compensation Act, 1923. The Employee's Compensation Act, 1923 is regulated by respective state authorities.

Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has  launched  Ayushman  Bharat-  Pradhan  Mantri  Jan  Arogya  Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on 23.09.2018 to provide health assurance/ insurance of Rs  5.00  lakh  per  family  to  around  10.74  crore  poor  and  vulnerable families.  AB-PMJAY  covers  deprived  families  in rural  areas  and families  of  workers  identified  in  occupational  categories  in  urban areas.    The  family  of  mine  workers  belonging  to  the  identified categories  is  entitled  to  get  benefits  under  the  Yojana.  Further, Government  Hospitals  and  occupational  health  centres  provided  by mine management caters to the treatment of mining workers.

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