KOLKATA: It must have been a respite for the West Bengal government not to have been hounded for human rights violation after West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairperson Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly resigned from the post. But on February 6 exactly a month after the Justice Ganguly's resignation the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) shot off a showcause notice and a directive the state government to submit a detailed report in connection to cases of silicosis deaths among stone crushing unit workers of Birbhum.
Silicosis is a progressive ailment triggered by inhaling of silica. Those suffering from silicosis are also at the risk of tuberculosis (TB). There is no specific medical treatment for the ailment except reducing the symptoms.
The showcause notice to the chief secretary by NHRC follows a complaint by Samit Kumar Carr of Occupational Safety and Health Association of Jharkhand (OSHAJ). The general secretary of OSHAJ complained to NHRC on February 11, 2012 that Debu Raut and Michu Murmu who worked in a stone crushing unit in Birbhum's Mohammad Bazar suffered from silicosis. And it apprehended that more workers might have been affected.
The NHRC forwarded a copy of the complaint to the government on February 21, 2012, asking to inform the commission - the measures taken up to prevent silicosis, if the two men were rightly found to be suffering from silicosis and a special rehab package for the victims of silicosis.
The West Bengal government on May 21, 2012 submitted a report to the commission that 25 workers of stone crushing units of Birbhum were examined randomly and 23 of them were found suffering from TB. And that Michu Murmu by then had died and Debu Raut was suffering from chronic TB. One Sukul Tudu was suspected to be a case of silicosis initially but later tests like CT scan found that his pulmonary condition was due to lung fibrosis.
The commission sought Carr's comment on this report by the West Bengal government. Carr commented that both Debu and Michu were victims of silicosis and provided the medical report from Belur ESI Hospital that has ILO rating facilities for confirming the ailment.
NHRC considered the matter on Januray 31, 2014 and observed that both Debu and Michu were suffering from silicosis and Michu died due to it.
"This indicates that the state has failed to protect the lives of the duo. This is case of violation of human rights," the latter dated February 6, 2014 signed by Sunil Arora deputy registrar (law) of the commission wrote.
The commission serves a show-cause notice to the state government as to why the next of kin of Debu and Michu be not recommended for compensation.
The NHRC further raps up the state government asking it to probe the nexus between crushing unit operators and directs the chief secretary to take actions - illegally run units be closed henceforth, license of legally run ones that do not adhere to safety norms be cancelled and all 25 workers and Sukul Tudu be re-examined by experts in dust related diseases in ESI Hospital Belur.
"Illegal stone crushing units can not operate without the connivance of officials of the labour department and the Pollution Control Board. Hence departmental enquiry be conducted and the result of the probe be communicated to the commission," the letter further directs.
Silicosis is a progressive ailment triggered by inhaling of silica. Those suffering from silicosis are also at the risk of tuberculosis (TB). There is no specific medical treatment for the ailment except reducing the symptoms.
The showcause notice to the chief secretary by NHRC follows a complaint by Samit Kumar Carr of Occupational Safety and Health Association of Jharkhand (OSHAJ). The general secretary of OSHAJ complained to NHRC on February 11, 2012 that Debu Raut and Michu Murmu who worked in a stone crushing unit in Birbhum's Mohammad Bazar suffered from silicosis. And it apprehended that more workers might have been affected.
The NHRC forwarded a copy of the complaint to the government on February 21, 2012, asking to inform the commission - the measures taken up to prevent silicosis, if the two men were rightly found to be suffering from silicosis and a special rehab package for the victims of silicosis.
The West Bengal government on May 21, 2012 submitted a report to the commission that 25 workers of stone crushing units of Birbhum were examined randomly and 23 of them were found suffering from TB. And that Michu Murmu by then had died and Debu Raut was suffering from chronic TB. One Sukul Tudu was suspected to be a case of silicosis initially but later tests like CT scan found that his pulmonary condition was due to lung fibrosis.
The commission sought Carr's comment on this report by the West Bengal government. Carr commented that both Debu and Michu were victims of silicosis and provided the medical report from Belur ESI Hospital that has ILO rating facilities for confirming the ailment.
NHRC considered the matter on Januray 31, 2014 and observed that both Debu and Michu were suffering from silicosis and Michu died due to it.
"This indicates that the state has failed to protect the lives of the duo. This is case of violation of human rights," the latter dated February 6, 2014 signed by Sunil Arora deputy registrar (law) of the commission wrote.
The commission serves a show-cause notice to the state government as to why the next of kin of Debu and Michu be not recommended for compensation.
The NHRC further raps up the state government asking it to probe the nexus between crushing unit operators and directs the chief secretary to take actions - illegally run units be closed henceforth, license of legally run ones that do not adhere to safety norms be cancelled and all 25 workers and Sukul Tudu be re-examined by experts in dust related diseases in ESI Hospital Belur.
"Illegal stone crushing units can not operate without the connivance of officials of the labour department and the Pollution Control Board. Hence departmental enquiry be conducted and the result of the probe be communicated to the commission," the letter further directs.