Health Problems of Mine Labours

Silicosis and Asbestosis are two major diseases, spread by various minerals dust (ex., sand-stone, mica, asbestos) in the work of mines. So, most of the workers, who are doing mine work, suffering from silicosis and asbestosis. Some people died by the reason of these diseases, because, there is no proper treatment.

Not only mine worker affected by this disease, but also those people should be affected, who has staying the near of mine (within 15 km area). Because, the dust of minerals is mixed in the air. In the process of respiration dust of silica and asbestos enter in the lungs through the nose. Its stuck on the lungs, that’s why comes the hurdles in the breathing process. Its very dangerous to human body. By that reason body has squeeze. Body has totally weak. After, sometime in very critical condition patients has dead. This dust also enters through the water. At the mining place, there is no available of pure or clean water. So, its spread very fast. It should be affected after the 15 years of left the mine work.

We met the patients of silicosis at their house. Their experiences are very bad, from that time, they are suffering. In 2016 they got some help (1 lakh) from DMFT-District Mineral Foundation Trust, (government) after the checking of patients. The health committee, which is made by chief health officer of Bhilwara gave the certificates of silicosis patients. Certificate consider the help of government. If any person caused by silicosis, but he has no any certificate. He doesn’t get government help. Before death 1 lakh and after death 3 lakh is a provision in DMFT. But 1 lakh is not enough to the treatment of patient. Patients demands to more money for the treatment before death. It should be very useful to their cure. Because, they don’t have other income source and they can’t do the work in any condition.

One woman told about her situation. Her husband was working in the mines. He dead by the silicosis. But, doctor didn’t do the proper treatment. By the report of doctor, he was a patient of T.B. On that time there were no awareness about the silicosis. Also, the symptoms of the silicosis and T.B. are near by same. That’s why they didn’t differentiate of these diseases by lack of resources of checking. She purchased her own money for the treatment of husband. She sells her jewellery. She doesn’t have any certificate of the patients. Therefore, she didn’t get any profit from government scheme of DMFT.

Their opinion about the mines are…Mines should be banned. But, their livelihood is depends upon the mines. So, they say that if we don’t live, how we can work. "Life is more important than the mine work." If we will live, we will do work.

Sharad Kodane