abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

17 May 2016

Author:
Aditi Raja, Indian Express

India: 238 deaths later, silicosis is still the killer in Godhra’s quarries

ASWANT Manjhi...40-year-old has already lost his elder brother Mukesh, younger sister Kokila and her husband Tansinh — all workers like him at stone quarries in Godhra — to the respiratory disease. And he is among the survivors still waiting for justice from the Gujarat government...The story of these stone quarry workers made headlines after the Supreme Court, in a rare order last week, directed the Gujarat government to release more than Rs 7 crore as compensation to the families of 238 workers who died due to silicosis after working in its quartz and stone crushing industries. But for those like Manjhi, getting compensation from the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) that a Vadodara labour court ordered last year has proved to be a fruitless struggle. Some silicosis victims turned to religion for solace, and others alleged that they were handed tuberculosis cards by the local Primary Health Centre (PHC).