589 MP labourers died due to silicosis in Guj: Study

As many as 589 labourers, mostly tribals from western Madhya Pradesh, died due to silicosis in last ten years while working for the quartz crushing factories in Gujarat, according to a study.
The deceased were among 1,721 people from 743 families hailing from tribal-dominated Dhar, Jhabua and Alirajpur districts who had migrated to Gujarat, claims the study carried out by three NGOs including 'Silicosis Peedit Sangh' (SPS), between October 2015-March 2016.
Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in tiny bits of silica, a mineral that is part of sand, rock, and mineral ores such as quartz.
SPS worker Amulya Nidhi told PTI today that the study covered 105 villages in the three districts.

He said the Supreme Court had on May 4 directed the Gujarat government to pay a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each to 238 people among the deceased on the recommendation made by the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) in 2010.
Amulya said they have forwarded a list of remaining 351 deceased to NHRC to facilitate compensation to their families from Gujarat government.

He said NHRC had recommended to MP Government in 2010 to prepare a rehabilitation plan for the silicosis-affected patients.
The SPS worker said though some steps have been taken to help the silicosis patients in Madhya Pradesh a lot still needs to be done.

"Many patients of the respiratory disease are unable to reap the benefit of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act (MGNREGA) and Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana," he added.
According to him, the labourers fell prey to the deadly disease in Gujarat after inhaling crystalline silica and silica dust in the absence of safety measures.
When contacted, Indore Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Dubey said that he would be able to comment on the contents of the report only after perusing it.
Conceding that silicosis is a reality, he said the government is working out measures to ensure that labourers need not migrate to Gujarat to earn livelihood.