Lok Sabha Question No. 88 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Silicosis Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.88 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2021 SILICOSIS PATIENTS

## *88. DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV: SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  number  of  Silicosis  patients  identified  in  the  country,  State/UT/districtwise, particularly in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan;
- (b)  the  details  and  number  of  patients  provided  medical  and  financial  assistance specifically  in  Guna,  Ashoknagar,  Shivpuri  in  Madhya  Pradesh,  Balasore  in  Odisha and Pali in Rajasthan;
- (c)  the  number  of  deaths  that  have  occurred  due  to  Silicosis  and  compensation mechanism formulated by the Government for such deaths;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  steps  to  raise  awareness  and  providing safeguards against Silicosis; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 88* FOR 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2021

(a)  to  (c) Occupational  safety  and  health  survey  for  silicosis  was  carried  out  by Directorate General Factory Advice Service and Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) jointly with State Factory Inspectorates throughout the country. The details of the number of workers State-wise/UT-wise identified as suffering from Silicosis/Pneumoconiosis and the  numbers  of  workers  who  had  died  due  to  Silicosis  in  the  last  10  years  as  on 08.03.2018 are at Annexure I.

On the basis of information received from the mine owners by the Directorate General of Mines and Safety, and the Medical Camps conducted by National Institute of Miners health and that of Directorate General of Mines safety, the total number of Silicosis  cases detected in  the persons employed in the mines of the country, state / UT, district wise is at Annexure-II.

Health is a state subject and compensation for silicosis affected person is given under  Employee  Compensation  Act,  1923  which  is  administered  by  Compensation Commissioners of respective States.

There  are  also  provisions  to  protect  the  interest  of  labourers  affected  by  the notified diseases under the Mines Act, 1952. The mines owners are required to comply with the provisions viz. to provide alternate employment in the mine for which he is medically fit, disability allowance determined in accordance with the rates prescribed etc

(d) & (e) Silicosis is a notified disease under the Mines Act (1952) and the Factories Act (1948).  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also emphasized for regulation of working environment, protective equipment to workers with proper health education.

Indian Council of Medical Research -National Institute of Occupational Health (ICMR-NIOH) under Department of  Health  Research  (DHR)  has  developed  several technologies  for  reduction  of  dust  levels  and  diagnosis  of  silicosis.  It  has  also developed  techniques  for  prevention  and  control  of  silicosis  in  agate  workers  and quartz cutting industries.

Silicosis health-care units have been established in silicosis-risk districts by the States,  where  free  chest  X-ray  and  pulmonary  function  tests  are  done.  Regular inspections are made  to  industries  that use  silica,  with  active  involvement  of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure proper monitoring.

IEC  Booklets  about  silicosis  by  'National  Institute  of  Occupational  Health' (NIOH), India have been prepared and are available at: http://niohenvis.nic.in/booklets/silicosis.pdf and http://niohenvis.nic.in/booklets/silicosis1.pdf

Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Condition Code 2020 (OSHWC) has made it mandatory for all employers to provide annual health checks free of cost as prescribed by the appropriate Government.

Further,  DGFASLI  is  conducting  training  programmes,  workshops,  seminars, conferences  and  appreciation  programmes  for  creating  awareness  for  the  prevention and  safeguard  against  Silicosis.  The  Chief  Inspectors  of  Factories  /  Directorate  of Industrial Safety and Health, (CIF/DISH) are also conducting awareness programmes on  providing  safeguards  against  Silicosis.  Following  measure  have  been  taken  to protect the mine workers:

- i. Wet drilling
- ii. Periodic monitoring of dust levels at workplace.
- iii. Use of Dust mask and Dust respirator as Personal Protective Equipments.
- iv. Initial Medical Examination before employment and periodical Medical Examinations of persons employed in mines at an interval of 5 years.
- v. Occupational Health Surveys
- vi. Awareness campaigns

The details of the number of workers State-wise/UT-wise identified as suffering from Silicosis/Pneumoconiosis and the numbers of workers who had died due to Silicosis in the last 10 years as on 08.03.2018:

|   SI. No. | States/ UTs       | The details of the number of workers suffering from silicosis / pneumoconiosis in the country state-wise and industry/mine- wise   | Details of the workers who had silicosis during years   |
|-----------|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Andhra Pradesh    | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|         2 | Arunachal Pradesh | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|         3 | Assam             | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|         4 | Bihar             | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|         5 | Chhattisgarh      | 05                                                                                                                                 | 02                                                      |
|         6 | Goa               | 01                                                                                                                                 | NIL                                                     |
|         7 | Gujarat           | 48                                                                                                                                 | 17                                                      |
|         8 | Haryana           | 53                                                                                                                                 | 01                                                      |
|         9 | Himachal Pradesh  | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        10 | Jharkhand         | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        11 | Karnataka         | 02                                                                                                                                 | 02                                                      |
|        12 | Kerala            | 04                                                                                                                                 | NIL                                                     |
|        13 | Madhya Pradesh    | 131                                                                                                                                | 162                                                     |
|        14 | Maharashtra       | 06                                                                                                                                 | 02                                                      |
|        15 | Meghalaya         | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        16 | Mizoram           | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        17 | Odisha            | 10                                                                                                                                 | 09                                                      |
|        18 | Punjab            | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        19 | Rajasthan         | State labour department has sent 7 suspected cases to state silicosis board, none was confirmed by board                           | NIL                                                     |
|        20 | Sikkim            | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        21 | Tamil Nadu        | 04                                                                                                                                 | 01                                                      |
|        22 | Telangana         | 06                                                                                                                                 | 01                                                      |
|        23 | Tripura           | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        24 | Uttar Pradesh     | NA                                                                                                                                 | NA                                                      |
|        25 | Uttarakhand       | NIL                                                                                                                                | NIL                                                     |
|        26 | Nagaland          | 01                                                                                                                                 | NIL                                                     |
|        27 | Manipur           | NA                                                                                                                                 | NA                                                      |
|        28 | Jammu & Kashmir   | NA                                                                                                                                 | NA                                                      |

|    | (Srinagar)               |     |     |
|----|--------------------------|-----|-----|
| 29 | West Bengal              | 31  | NA  |
| 30 | Andaman & Nicobar Island | NIL | NIL |
| 31 | Chandigarh               | NIL | NIL |
| 32 | Daman & DIU (Daman)      | NIL | NIL |
| 33 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli     | NIL | NIL |
| 34 | Delhi                    | NIL | NIL |
| 35 | Lakshadweep              | NIL | NIL |
| 36 | Puducherry               | NIL | NIL |
|    | Total                    | 340 | 197 |

## Total number of Silicosis cases detected in the persons employed in the mines of the country, state / UT, district

wise

| SI No.   | State          | District        | No. of Silicosis Cases   |
|----------|----------------|-----------------|--------------------------|
| 1        | Jharkhand      | Dhanbad         | 2                        |
| 1        | Jharkhand      | Pakur           | 5                        |
| 1        | Jharkhand      | Koderma         | 2                        |
| 1        | Jharkhand      | Sahibganj       | 1                        |
| 1        | Jharkhand      | Giridih         | 1                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Betul           | 6                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Ratlam          | 1                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Seoni           | 1                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Satna           | 2                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Jhabhua         | 5                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Neemuch         | 33                       |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Mandsaur        | 1                        |
| 2        | Madhya Pradesh | Vidisha         | 15                       |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Bundi           | 7                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Dausa           | 2                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Sikar           | 4                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | JhunJhunu       | 3                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Bhilwara        | 9                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Udaipur         | 1                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Chittorgarh     | 32                       |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Sirohi          | 6                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Jalore          | 18                       |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Banswara        | 11                       |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Pratapgarh      | 6                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Rajsamad        | 1 1                      |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Jaipur          | 1                        |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Ajmer           | 42                       |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Dholpur Jodhpur | 41                       |
| 3        | Rajasthan      | Nagaur          | 15                       |
| 4        | Gujarat        | Jamnagar        | 1                        |
| 4        | Gujarat        | Banaskanta      | 1                        |
| 4        | Gujarat        | Sabarkantha     | 3                        |
| 4        | Gujarat        | Aravali         | 2                        |
| 4        | Gujarat        | Gir Somnath     | 1                        |
| 5        | Karnataka      | Ballari         | 5                        |
| 5        | Karnataka      | Bagalkot        | 9                        |
| 5        | Karnataka      | Raichur         | 4                        |
| 5        | Karnataka      | Gulbarga        | 13                       |
| 6        | Andhra Pradesh | Ananthapuram    | 11                       |
| 6        | Andhra Pradesh | Vizianagram     | 6                        |
| 7        | Telangana      | Nalgonda        | 2                        |
| 7        | Telangana      | Suryapet        | 3                        |
| 7        | Telangana      | Medchal         | 6                        |
| 7        | Telangana      | Sangareddy      | 1                        |
| 8        | Tamilnadu      | Krishnagiri     | 14                       |
| 8        | Tamilnadu      | Ariyalur        | 5                        |
| 9        | Chhattisgarh   | Raigarh         | 2                        |
| 10       | Kerala         | Kollam          | 2                        |
| 11       | Goa            | North Goa       | 15                       |
| 12       | Uttar Pradesh  | Lalitpur        | 07                       |
|          |                | total           | 403                      |