HEDCON has been working with more than 200,000 unorganized labourers in four mineworker areas having sand stone, marble, clay, salt and granite mines, in Western Rajasthan. HEDCON with its network organizations has been able to create 5 mineworkers unions which has membership of more than 25 thousand mineworkers. Some of the major achievements in ensuring the rights of mine workers are as follows-

SILICOSIS

Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused as a result of unsafe mining by mineworkers, in mines. It has been proven that more than 40% of the mineworkers with prolonged exposure to silica dust get effected by the disease. HEDCON has been working with its network organizations, unions and mineworkers on its recognition, compensation and prevention for last 12 years. Following steps have been taken so far.

HUMAN RIGHTS

RECOGNITION

With preliminary medical history and symptoms, the disease was generally recognized as tuberculosis or asthma. HEDCON raised awareness which helped in ensuring that disease is Correctly recognized.

PNEUMOCONIOSI BOARD RE-FORMATION

To get compensation for the occupational disease silicosis mine workers required certification from Pneumoconiosis board which was not functional. HEDCON submitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which formed the basis for reformation of the board for certification of the disease. However, the rules were not framed and board couldn’t certify any mine worker for silicosis till 2010.

EXAMINATION OF MINEWORKERS

Based on the physical symptoms, HEDCON undertook a mass drive for examination of mineworkers for identification of silicosis by private doctors. In two years 2011-2012, it created files of about 500 mineworkers with silicosis and submitted their cases in labour court, which with time all got rejected because they were not certified by the Pneumoconiosis board and no mineworker could prove that they have worked in a particular mine for a long time. However, this was the first time when labour court had received any case for compensation for silicosis.

WRIT WITH SHRC

Based on analysis from its work on silicosis, HEDCON submitted a writ to SHRC which questioned all the relevant departments in ensuring their accountability towards prevention of the disease and diagnosis of patients for treatment and compensation.

DISTRICT LEVEL BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION

Consistent persuasion and consultation with the health department resulted in constitution of Pneumoconiosis board at district level in 2013. This was a big relief for grieving mine workers as they could go to the nearby hospital and start the process of certification and compensation.

SUPPORT TO MINEWORKERS FOR COMPENSATION

Government of Rajasthan took a landmark decision of providing compensation of INR 100,000, for affected alive; and an amount of INR 300,000 for deceased certified silicosis patients. HEDCON continues to identify silicosis patients, support them in certification and ensuring that they receive their due compensation. Till now, total 5024 patients examined by the board and 2164 patients certified. 1300 patients supported by HEDCON for certification and compensation. HEDCON is also a member of supreme court committee on silicosis constituted in the leadership of Mr. TK Joshi, which meets on regular basis for identification of issues and solutions on compensation and prevention of the disease.

PREVENTION

For prevention of disease, HEDCON has worked with mine owners, supported visits of Labour Enforcement Officers (LEOs) for cribbing dry drilling, and have also held meetings with export units for fair stone purchase.

CHILD LABOR

Research on child labor in mines, Tales of Woe (2004), sensitized National Human Right Commission (NHRC) and government of Rajasthan to take up the issue seriously. The government re-examined the status of child labour in the State and submitted a report to NHRC in 2006.

FIRST AID

Accidents are common in mines and due to poor availability of health facilities and first-aid, accidents result in casualties. HEDCON believes that such causalities can be minimized by providing proper safety gears to mine workers and availability of first aid in case of an accident. HEDCON has organized 150 first aid training workshop and trained 8000 mine workers in the mines. Similarly, HEDCON sensitized more than 32% mine-owners to ensure that first-aid box is available in the mines.

SKILL BUILDING AND LIVELIHOODS

HEDCON has organized 8 trainings and has been able to train 169 mineworkers and/or their children in livelihood skills. This has helped them not only in getting jobs, but also having access to loans for starting their business.