Silicosis In Western India

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Silicosis In Western India

• Presentation on behalf of
• Khedut Mazdoor Chetna Sangathan, Alirajpur
• and Shilpi Kendra, Indore
• Dr. Ashish Gupta

2
SILICOSIS

• Accumulation of crystalline silica dust in lungs
  and tissue reaction due to its presence
• Silicosis is commonest and the most widespread
  occupational disease which causes high morbidity
  and mortality.
• Once a person has contracted the disease, it
  progresses even without further exposure to
  silica.
• And death from this disease is certain as there
  is no treatment.

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SILICOSIS IN INDIA

• Indian Council of Medical Research is the only
  National Level study in silicosis Sept 99
• It does not give total incidence of Silicosis in
  India.
• It says there are about 30 lakh workers in India
  who are at high potential risk of Silicosis.
• It gives Industry wise Prevelance as Slate
  Pencil Workers-54.6, Agate Workers 38,Stone
  cutters-35, Mica Mining-34.

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Quartz Crushing Source of large quantity of
crystalline silica dust

• Quartz Crushing is one of the few industries
  where there is an exposure of the workers to
  almost 100 free silica dust in its finest form.
• Most of the work carried out by the workers
  involves heavy physical labour leading to deep
  and rapid breathing which causes greater
  penetration of fine airborne dust deeper into the
  lungs.

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DEATH IN OBLIVION

• Western
• India

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Silica production in western region (Gujarat)?

• Quartz stone mined in open cast mines.
• It is crushed, pulverized and screened to make
  various grades silica sand and dust.
• Which is used in glass making, picture tubes,
  tiles.
• There are 24 factories in Gujarat border of MP
  which procure Quartz stone from local mines and
  crush them.

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Tribal Region of Western India

• Western India (Western Madhya Pradesh eastern
  Gujarat) is tribal dominated. The livelihood
  options are scanty- mainly rainfed subsistence
  agriculture.
• There is large out-migration for employment in
  industrial towns, many of them getting employed
  in Quartz crushing units.

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Extent of spread of Silicosis in Western India

• Silicosis is spread over a very wide region
  affecting four states.
• Due to lack of awareness it is diagnosed as TB.
  No systematic study is there to find out the
  extent of spread.
• Many contract the disease after leaving work and
  die in remote villages in OBLIVION. Surveys are
  usually done on currently working factory
  labourers.

9
Cont..

• KMCS a Tribal peoples org. working on issue of
  displacement and forest raised the issue of large
  scale deaths due to unknown illness and raised
  media attention.
• Some diagnostic camps were held in Govt.
  Hospital. Silicosis was diagnosed officially for
  the first time in 2005 in these camps.

10
Cont..

• KMCS with the help of voluntary groups linked the
  disease demanded justice for workers of the
  neighbouring Quartz crushing units.
• Thereafter a survey of 21 villages was conducted
  to document the extent of spread and its impact
  on the family and village economy and also the
  human tragedy.

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SURVEY FINDINGS

• Survey was conducted in 21 villages of Alirajpur
  Tehsil of Jhabua District (Madhya Pradesh) in Oct
  06-Jan 07.
• 489 persons belonging to 218 families had a
  definite exposure to silica dust of varying
  intensity and duration.
• Of the 489 persons who were exposed, 158 were
  dead and 266 were found ill i.e. 86 (424) of
  those exposed to silica were either ill or dead.
• Persons affected were prime bread winners of
  family. Majority (92 )of persons affected were
  in age group of 15-50 years.

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Cont..

• There were 70 persons below the age of 18 who
  were affected, out of whom 31 have died due to
  silicosis.
• Most of the deaths i.e. 94(149 deaths) have
  occurred with less than 3 years of exposure to
  silica. and therefore were acute silicosis. This
  shows the presence of acute silicosis in the
  area.

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GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

• No steps were taken by the Government either to
  close the factories, or prevent further exposure
  or provide compensation. None of the victims have
  evidence of working in factories as they are
  mostly poor uneducated tribals. Casual workers,
  no attendence recored or ESI registration.
• The law is very weak and most of culprit
  factories are not even covered under Emoloyees
  Insurance.

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DEMANDS OF KMCS

• Immediate and adequate compensation.
• Strict action should be taken against culprit
  factories
• Proper Employees State Insurance records and
  records as per the Factory Act should be
  maintained.
• Out migration of tribals from their villages
  should be prevented by providing them employment
  in their own villages.

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I am thankful to Khedut Mazdoor Chetna Sangathan,
Alirajpur and Shilpi Kendra, Indore to give me
this opportunity to present this issue here. I
hope that some concrete actions would be
undertaken at the end of this workshop to curtail
this human tragedy.