Discussions
Silicosis: A public health emergency in India
Occupational health is a public health emergency, long ignored in India, primarily as it is considered more of a class issue than a public health problem. The economic impact of mortality and morbidity associated with occupational diseases (OD) and accidents at work is nowhere a priority, resulting in the absence of reliable estimates and credible data on ODs. There are no laws for the protection and preservation of health at work for over 90% of workers in the unorganised sector. These should be a priority across economic sectors, along with laws to compensate workers and citizens for environmental contamination. In spite of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 for the workers in the organised sector, and the Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923 for both, organised and unorganised sectors, most of the victims have to depend upon doles paid by the State schemes for financial assistance in case of silicosis.
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Civil society must do the following:
1. Facilitate employees’ registration under ESI Act and/or get them employment card by liaison with employers and local govt authorities.
2. PPEs and air pollution control devices should be made available by encouraging employers and workers by NGOs and civil society.
3. Main problem is that workers are ignorant and socially backward. NGOs must shake hands with local legislators, government officials, local body representatives with positive intentions to make a concerted effort to educate workers about the dangers of the employment and their rights to work in an environment free from hazards or to get protective equipments. Unless the worker is aware and unwilling to work without protection, our efforts to save them from hazards will not be successful. Our aim should not be limited to facilitate compensation to the victim but to join hands with power that be and facilitate enforcement of prevalent laws regarding the hazard and/or enact new laws if necessary. We must drop militant attitude to get the work done.