Lok Sabha Question No. 3891 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Safety and Welfare of Mining Workers in Chhattisgarh
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Smt. Jyotsna Charandas Mahant

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

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3891 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## SAFETY AND WELFARE OF MINING WORKERS IN CHHATTISGARH

†3891. SMT. JYOTSNA CHARANDAS MAHANT:

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

- (a) whether security rules has been placed for the women labourers working in the underground mines of Chhattisgarh and whether any provision of regular reviews of their effective implementation exist and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the funds allocated and actually utilized from 'The Non-Coal  Mines  Labour  Welfare  Funds'  by  the  Government  in Chhattisgarh  during  the  last  three  years  and  the  current  years, year-wise;
- (c) whether any mandatory health survey has been conducted by the Government for laboures working in mines areas and the number of silicosis  patients  identified  in  Chhattisgarh  during  the  last  two years;
- (d) the details of the 'Kaam Roko Orders' issued due to fatal accidents and safety violation in mines of Chhattisgarh during the last three years; and
- (e)  whether  the  payment  of  compensation  to  accident  affected families has been made on time by the Government and the number of cases of compassionate ground appointment of mines accidents are  pending  at  present  in  Chhattisgarh  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (e): The Central Government has enacted the Occupational Safety,  Health  and  Working  Conditions  (OSH&WC)  Code,  2020  to regulate occupational safety, health and working conditions of the persons employed in registered establishments including women labourers  employed  in  underground  mines.  The  Code  which  has come into force on 21.11.2025 provides for universal application of occupational   safety,    health    and    welfare    facilities   in     all

establishments having 10 or more workers and for establishments with  one  employee  in  hazardous  or  life-threatening  occupations, free  annual  health  check-up  for  employees  including  women, formalization  through  appointment  letters,  regulation  of  working hours, women allowed to work in all sector in all types of works including night shifts (with consent and safety measures).

Under the OSH&WC Code, 2020, standard provisions have been specified to ensure uniform health and safety measures for mine workers including women along with criteria for medical examination and detection of occupational diseases.

No  cases  of  silicosis  have  been  reported  by  the  mine management  to  Directorate  General  of  Mines  Safety  (DGMS)  in Chhattisgarh during the last two years.

Welfare measures for workers engaged in the Non-Coal Mines  sector,  specifically  in  Iron,  Manganese  and  Chrome  Ore Mines, and Limestone and Dolomite Mines, are provided under the Labour  Welfare  Scheme  (LWS),  administered  by  the  Directorate General  of  Labour  Welfare  (DGLW).  Under  the  scheme,  welfare benefits such as healthcare services and educational scholarships for  the  wards  of  workers  are  provided  to  eligible  Non-Coal  Mine workers  and  their  families.  The  year-wise  details  of  benefits provided under health and education  in Chhattisgarh during the last three years and the current year are as follows:

| Year                 | Health Care - No. of beneficiaries (Non Coal) / Expenditure (₹) *   | Education (Scholarship) - No. of beneficiaries / Expenditure (₹) (Non Coal)   |
|----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2022- 23             | 26373 Beneficiaries/ Rs 4,19,602/-                                  | 6 Beneficiaries/ Rs 64,000/-                                                  |
| 2023- 24             | 26522 Beneficiaries/ Rs 7,30,254/-                                  | 30 Beneficiaries/ Rs 2,76,500/-                                               |
| 2024- 25             | 19703 Beneficiaries/ Rs 2,81,413/-                                  | 164 Beneficiaries/ Rs 15,26,500/-                                             |
| 2025- 26 (till date) | 12649 Beneficiaries/ Rs 4,40,346/-                                  | 257 Beneficiaries/ Rs 23,32,000/-                                             |

* Total expenditure incurred on purchase of medicine under health scheme for beneficiaries including non-coal beneficiaries.

In case of violations of safety norms in mines, improvement  notices  or/and  prohibitory  orders  are  issued  by  the Directorate General of Mines Safety as per provisions of the OSH&WC Code, 2020. Year-wise number of prohibitory orders issued by DGMS in Chhattisgarh is as below:

|   Year |   No. of Prohibitory Order |
|--------|----------------------------|
|   2023 |                          2 |
|   2024 |                          8 |
|   2025 |                          6 |

The  Employees'  Compensation  Act,  1923  provides  for payment of compensation to employees and their dependents in case of injury and accident arising out of and in the course of employment and resulting in disablement or death. The Act is implemented by the State / UTs. The Employees' Compensation Act, 1923 has now been subsumed in Code on Social Security, 2020 which has come into force on 21.11.2025.

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