MP rights panel issues notices over silicosis deaths

INDORE: Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) on Saturday took cognizance of Silicosis deaths in Alirajpur, Dhar and Jhabua and sought replies from the collectors of the affected districts on the status of victims and measures taken to resolve their plight.
The MPHRC has also issued notices to principal secretary health and chief health and medical officers of the districts seeking to know the steps taken to treat the patients suffering from Silicosis.
The notices were issued on the complaint received from Silicosis Peedit Sangh, which alleged that the laboruers, due to lack of opportunities in Alirajpur, Dhar and Jhabua, were forced to work in stone mines in Gujarat.
The collectors were asked to confirm whether labourers were not getting jobs under the National rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) and this was forcing them to migrate to Gujarat. They work in stone mines and suffer from Silicosis.
“Is it true that out of the 1721 patients, only 1132 patients are left alive and rest have died,” the MPHRC said in the notice.
The MPHRC also sought to know the steps taken by the district officials in the rehabilitation of the Silicosis patients.
The rights panel asked principal secretary heath and his department officials in the affected districts to explain what measures are taken to treat the Silicosis patients. Are they being given the right treatment?
The commission sought to know what action was being taken to treat silicosis patients who are still working in stone mines in Gujarat.
The MPHRC expressed concern over awareness about silicosis and asked principal secretary labour department and the collectors to give details of steps taken to inform people about the disease.
The Silicosis Peedit Sangh had alleged that the official figures of silicosis patients showed just the tip of the iceberg. They disease has taken mammoth proportion in Alirajpur, Dhar and Jhabua districts.
Silicosis is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust and is marked by inflammation and scarring in the form of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs. The disease is often fatal causing severe suffering to the patient.