Question : Safety of Mining Workers

(a)whether the Government has put in place any guidelines to be followed to ensure safety of mining workers in India, and if so, the details thereof;
(b)whether the Government has conducted any studies to evaluate whether the guidelines for safety of mining workers in the country have been strictly adhered to;
(c)if so, the details thereof including recommendations proposed, and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d)whether the Government has reasons to believe that child labour is rampant in the mining sector and if so, the actions taken thereon;
(e)whether the Government has any plans to introduce schemes to provide health insurance cover to the mining workers; and
(f)if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

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

(a): The safety of workers employed in the mines is dealt with in the Mines Act, 1952 and Rules & Regulations made thereunder. Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India administers this Act for ensuring safety of the persons employed in mines.

(b) & (c): No study has been conducted to evaluate adherence to the guidelines for safety of mining workers in the country. However, the owner, agent, manager and other statutory persons appointed at the mines are required to comply with the provisions of the statute. Chief Inspector of Mines and Inspectors of Mines make inspections to ascertain implementation of the provisions of the Mines Act, 1952 and of the regulations, rules and bye-laws and of any order made thereunder.
Contd..2/-
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In order to prevent re-occurrence of accidents in future, Directorate General of Mines Safety issues circular for the mining industry for preventive measures to be taken. To ensure that the mine workers are provided with adequate safety measures while working in the mines, DGMS undertakes inspections of mines and take measures vis a vis: Pointing out contraventions, Withdrawal of permission, Issue of improvement notices, Prohibition of employment, Informal stoppages and Prosecution in the court of law.

To prevent accidents in the mines the following steps are also taken by the Government:

(i) To promote and propagate safety awareness in mines, National Safety Awards (Mines), National Conference on Safety in Mines are organized by DGMS. Workers participation and sensitization in matters of safety are ensured through training in safety and by initiatives like observance of safety week and safety campaigns, etc.
(ii) Safety training programmes are organized among Managers and Supervisors for improving safety standards in mines.
(iii) Introduction of Risk Assessment Techniques and preparation of safety management plan aimed at elimination of risks and to ensure safety of workmen.
(iv) Introduction of standard operating procedures to avoid unsafe practices in mines.
(v) Time to time, DGMS Circulars are issued as guidelines for safe operations in identified thrust areas.

(d): -No, Sir.

(e) & (f): Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to provide health assurance/ insurance of Rs 5.00 lakh per family to 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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