Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Taking serious note of the continuing deaths due to silicosis – a fatal respiratory complication – and poor condition of survivors, the MP Human Rights Commission has served notices upon principal secretaries of three departments and three district collectors.

Also notices have been served to chief medical and health officers of the three affected districts – Alirajpur, Jhabua and Dhar.

The rights panel has put across different set of queries to the three principal secretaries, collectors and CMHOs and sought replies within 15 days.

The MPHRC notice comes after voluntary organization Silicosis Peedit Sangh submitted memorandum to the commission.

The panel has asked the principal secretary of panchayat and rural development and the three district collectors to reply on whether the local residents are not getting local employment under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) of which they have to work at quartz crushing factories in Gujarat and contract silicosis.

The panel noted that out of the 1721 patients of the disease, 589 have already succumbed. It talso said that even now a large number of villagers from these districts are migrating to Gujarat and work in these factories in unsafe conditions.

The officials have been asked as to what plan has been formulated for the orphans of the disease so that their future is secured. Also what action has been taken for rehabilitation of the affected persons?

The commission has asked the principal secretary of health department and the three CMHOs as to what arrangements have been made for treatment of affected persons and whether they are getting proper medical treatment?

These officers have also been asked as to what action was being taken for health of the affected people or those who are yet going to Gujarat.

The panel has also asked the principal secretary of labour department and the three district collectors as to whether the labourers are being counseled to not go to these factories in Gujarat to work and to find employment opportunities locally.

The Supreme Court had recently asked the MP government to present a report on rehabilitation plan for silicosis survivors in the state.