WB: No Compensation for Silicosis Victims; HC Seeks Report From Govt

Kolkata: The death toll of patients with silicosis symptoms continues to rise in West Bengal. Safiq, a worker suffering from silicosis, was hospitalised in critical condition on Wednesday. Two days before this, another worker Maruf was admitted to Minakha Hospital after being seriously ill. Suvarna Gayen, a worker suffering from silicosis, died a few days ago. All of them left home hoping to earn money when they did not get work in their villages or get the price of crops. These intra-state migrant labourers found work in stone quarries, cement factories, or coal mines and returned home with silicosis.

The workers are afflicted with silicosis, a pulmonary condition. It typically occurs when the body inhales a significant amount of crystalline silica dust. This kind of dust is typical of factory and mining environments. Workers in thermal power plants, cement factories, coal mines, and even stone mines in several districts, including Birbhum, West Burdwan, and Jhargram, are afflicted with lung disease.

According to medical professionals, silicosis is a chronic condition. This condition cannot be cured by following recommendations alone. Our lung tissue suffers substantial damage as a result of this illness. It is extremely difficult to recover from silicosis, which can be brought on by prolonged exposure to silica through inhalation or other means.

An organisation called 'Shanti Ganatantra Sanghati Manch' filed a public interest litigation (PIL) case in the High Court for the protection of the residents and workers of those areas. Advocates Bikasranjan Bhattacharya and Shamim Ahmed filed the case on behalf of the Manch. They also demanded rehabilitation of the workers in the case. The hearing in the case was held at the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. The High Court said that the state has to submit a report in this regard by May 9.

The case was filed alleging that many people suffer from chronic lung diseases in the mining areas or factory premises. The court has asked the state for its reply on Tuesday. A division bench of Justice T.S. Shivagnam and Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharya asked what steps the state has taken to ensure the safety of residents and workers in these areas. It also asked if the rule already in force had been obeyed.

Advocate Ahmed said that the victims are dying due to breathing problems or they are suffering day after day. Workers in stone quarries, coal mines, and thermal power stations get this disease. Many people have died due to this disease in several districts of the state, including Birbhum, Paschim Burdwan, and Jhargram, he said.

Compensation for their families and their rehabilitation have also been demanded for a long time. State guidelines have been made in this regard, but they have not yet been implemented, the lawyer said.

In this context, the state government said to the court that there is a specific law in this regard, which was enacted on December 17, 2021; the guidelines for the legislation were issued on February 25, next year.

After hearing the arguments of the petitioners on Tuesday, the division bench of the High Court said that the state should inform workers about the measures taken for their safety at workplaces, including cement factories, coal mines, stone quarries, and thermal power plants, where workers are exposed to the disease. The report should also mention the status of the guidelines prepared in 2021.

The Silicosis Akranto Sangrami Sramik Committee (SASSC) has been working with silicosis sufferers for a long time. On behalf of the organisation, Barnab told The People's Reporter, "Since 2012, we have been working with workers suffering from silicosis in a village in Minakha. At first, we did not understand how dire the situation was. However, the organisation was created after six years. Apart from this organisation, another forum has been created with several organisations, including Situ, Paschim Banga Vigyan Manch, for sufferers of silicosis and other occupational diseases."

"According to our survey, there are about 800 silicosis patients in nine blocks across North and South 24 Parganas districts. Although the mortality rate of this disease is 40%, death is almost certain. Someone dies quickly, someone slowly. Earlier, we got the report of a survey done by the state government where a total of 32 blocks were surveyed, and 6,32,000 silicosis patients were found. However, the government itself later denied this report. And we estimate that there are at least 25 lakh silicosis patients in the state," Barnab said.

On April 4, on behalf of the struggling workers' committee affected by silicosis, a charter of demand was given to the block medical officer of Meenakha Grameen Hospital. The committee has set a two-week deadline to fulfil the seven-point demands, including the publication of X-ray reports, the supply of quality medicines, and at least one chest specialist in every camp. Otherwise, the committee has warned of building a larger movement to meet their demands.