Agate workers draw attention of politicians to their working condition

The SVA celebrated April 28 as the ‘International Workers’ Memorial Day’ and remembered the 32 agate workers who lost their lives on duty in the last one year. In 2005,the International Labour Organization (ILO) had recognised this day as the ‘World day for Safety and Health at Work’.

The agate industry in the Khambhat region employs about 30,000 workers. Of these,nearly 1,500 workers are directly exposed to incurable occupational lung disease caused by Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). Over 300 suspected silicosis patients have been identified in 23 villages of Jhalod taluka,two villages of Fatehpura taluka and one village of Dahod taluka.

Jagdish Patel,Director,Peoples Training and Research Centre (PTRC),a voluntary organisation working for occupational safety and health,which is also a part of SVA,said: “Our demands include issuing identity cards to all workers,establishing a welfare fund for agate workers,free medical check-ups,and treatment for silicosis victims.”

He added: “Other demands like fixing of minimum wages,insurance cover for agate workers,due compensation for families of silicosis victims,subsistence allowance to all workers disabled due to silicosis,separate childcare for women workers,BPL cards for agate workers,and interest-free loans to workers,are also included.”

The SVA has also demanded safety kits to be provided to all workers,adding that savings groups of widows of agate workers should be extended help by NABARD. It has also demanded amendment in the Persons with Disabilities Act (Equal Opportunities,Protection of Rights and Full Participation),1995,to include respiratory disability and respiratory disabled.

Patel said that in its investigation,PTRC has found that the agate industry is a death trap for all workers as most of them work as bonded labourers for life. Even compensation after death is not forthcoming,as the majority of workers are not covered under the Employee’s State Insurance Act.

Silicosis

Silicosis (also known as Grinder’s disease or Potter’s rot) is an incurable occupational lung disease caused by Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS). The only known cure till now is lung transplantation. The disease may develop in a few years or even in few months if exposure to RCS is high. Silicosis patients show symptoms of breathlessness,with chronic cough and sputum. The disease causes irreversible lung damage before any symptom develops. The illness it causes may continue to worsen even after exposure stops. Silicosis also reduces patients’ immunity to tuberculosis,lung cancer,kidney disease,arthritis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).