Lok Sabha Question No. 463 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Mining and Industrial Zones
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Chandrani Murmu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 463 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## MINING AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES

## 463. MS. CHANDRANI MURMU:

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

- (a)whether the Government has conducted any study to determine the health condition of people in mining and industrial zones;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d)whether the Government proposes to make adequate arrangement to improve the medical facilities particularly in the mining areas of Odisha  where  people  suffer  from  various  ailments  connected  to mining; and
- (e)if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (c): National  Institute  of  Miners'  Health  (NIMH),  Nagpur  in collaboration  with  Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety    (DGMS),  a subordinate  office  of  Ministry  of  Labour  &  Employment  conducted  a survey under the project 'Multi Centric Study of Dust Related  Disease in Stone Mines and Development of Sustainable Preventive Programme'    to  detect  cases  of  silicosis  in  the  stone  mines  during 2015-2016  to  2017-  2018.  During  the  project,  2537  persons  were examined out of which 136 cases of silicosis were detected.

Further, DGMS with the help of State Government Authorities and mines management also carried out surveys to detect cases of silicosis in the stone mines and other metal mines in various states  during  calendar  year  2017  to  2022.  During  the  survey,  14908 persons have been examined, 12657 X-ray films were evaluated out of which 287 cases of silicosis have been detected.

(d) & (e): Following provisions have been made in Mines Act 1952 and rules and regulations framed thereunder:(i) Health status of workers employed in a mine is monitored / checked by conducting initial medical examination at the time of first employment  and  periodical  medical  examination  at  every  five  years intervals  in  accordance  with  the  Rule  29B  of  Mines  Rules,  1955.    In case  of  persons  employed  in  Asbestos  Mines,  intervals  of  Periodical Medical Examination is 3 years. (ii)  Periodic  medical  examination  or  the  chest  x-  ray  examination  or both,  shall  be  conducted  at  more frequent  intervals  if  the  examining authority  deems  it  necessary  to  confirm  a  suspected  case  of  a  dust related disease. (iii)  As per provisions of the Section 25 of the Mines Act 1952, if any person  employed  in  the  mines  contracts  any  notified  disease,  the Owner,  Agent  or  Manager  of  the  Mine  send  notice  to  DGMS  in appropriate  form.  However  no  such  case  has  been  reported  to  this Directorate from the state of Odisha during the last three years. (iv)  As per the section 9A of the Mines Act 1952, the Chief Inspector or an Inspector or other officer authorized in this behalf may undertake the  safety  and  occupational  health  survey  in  a  mine  to  identify  the persons with any of the occupational diseases. (v)    If  any  person  who  is  found  medically  unfit  in  a  safety  and occupational  health  survey  undertaken  as  per  provisions  of    sub section 2 of section 9 A of the Mines Act 1952, he shall be entitled to undergo  medical  treatment  at  the  cost  of  the  owner,  agent    and manager with full wages during the period of such treatment.

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