Question : Silicosis in Workers

(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/UT-wise; 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?

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.

Contd..2/-

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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 un-organised 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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