The NHRC deplored silicosis prevailed in almost all states

The NHRC Chairperson, Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, today deplores that the State Governments were not serious enough in dealing with silicosis, a disease of lungs caused due to inhalation of silica in dust which is incurable but preventable. Silicosis is prevalent in almost all States though they did not maintain an authentic data on the exact number of affected persons. He said that the callous attitude of State Governments is a point of concern for the NHRC.

Justice Balakrishnan expressed these views while inaugurating a day-long National Conference on Silicosis organized by the NHRC at India International Centre in New Delhi. He said that the occupational hazards of silicosis are preventable if the working conditions are properly regulated and proper warning and protective equipment is used. But the employers are not putting them to practice. He said that there should be a separate law to ensure implementation of preventive measures to protect workers from silicosis.

He said that lakhs of workers might have caught up silicosis while working in quarries, stone crushing units, mines, glass cutting factories, sand blasting, construction, gem cutting industries, ceramic industries, but the Government has not done any survey to find out an authentic number of the victims of silicosis.