5K silicosis patients await compensation
WHY THE DELAY Report submitted to SC says patients are not getting compensation due to delay in govt formalities
More than 5,000 silicosis-affected people in Rajasthan are waiting for compensation despite being certified by the pneumoconiosis board due to the delay in government formalities, a report submitted to the Supreme Court, has revealed.
The Supreme Court on August 23, 2016, hearing on a petition by an NGO on the status of compensation, rehabilitation and diagnosis of silicosis victims in Rajasthan, appointed Dr Tushar Kant Joshi to conduct an inquiry into the monetary relief and rehabilitation to people affected with in seven states, including Rajasthan.
Silicosis is a deadly disease that leads to slow degradation of lung tissues following long exposure to silica dust.
Rajasthan is the first -- and the only – state to declare silicosis as a notified disease under the Rajasthan Epidemics Act, 1957, and pays ex gratia of ₹ 1 lakh to a silicosis-affected person and ₹ 3 each to the dependents of the deceased.
Joshi in the report, said that more than 19,000 people have been screened by the pneumoconiosis boards set up in medical colleges and district hospitals in
SILICOSIS IS A DISEASE THAT LEADS TO SLOW DEGRADATION OF LUNG TISSUES FOLLOWING LONG EXPOSURE TO SILICA DUST
the state, out of which 9,000 people have been certified of having the disease, but only 2,950 have been provided relief until now.
Another 675 received relief from the building and other construction workers funds. No one has been compensated under the Employee Compensation Act, 1923, the report said.
Official figures show that there are 5,392 people suffering from silicosis in the state and at least 331 have died due to the disease. Mining leases in Jodhpur are small but very hazardous as most are sand stone mines, Joshi said in the report.
The neglect of preventive measures is another serious matter and action should be taken against factory, mine owners and builders who show resistance in instituting preventive and protective measures, the report said.