trial. Commission constantly monitors Silicosis cases by recommending compensations and formulating schemes for welfare of the silicosis affected persons and their families, which include rehabilitation, health checkups and employment, and many of the States have already introduced silicosis schemes. • Persons with Disability: For NHRC, however, there is need for a paradigm shift in this respect, and a necessity to view questions relating to disability through the perspective of human rights. A Core Group on Disability related issues was also constituted by the Commission to consider the problems faced by the persons with disability from a human rights perspective and evolve suitable ways and means of improving the conditions of those persons. • Geriatric: The NHRC has been making a continuous effort to ensure medical insurance cover for older persons beyond 70 years and as long as they live, the provision of separate queues for older persons in hospitals, an increase in old age homes facilities, provision of a separate wing for older persons and a hospital for the terminally ill funded by the Government, provision of pensions for older persons and the like. Further, it has endeavoured to ascertain from the various States the action being taken by them to check abuse of the elderly and the action that they proposed to take to protect the rights of the aged. NHRC even established a special cell for security of senior citizens in Delhi to be functional under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch). The Commission organised consultative meetings on safeguarding rights of elderly persons in context of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2017. • Refugees: Commission takes proactive measures for the rights and protection of refugees to file a petition with respect to Chakma Refugees, migrated from Bangladesh to India. The Commission has also taken suo-motu cognizance of other refugees matter and issued requisite directions regarding refugees from Pakistan, Myanmar and other places. The NHRC has also set up an expert group on refugees and organize discussion on rights of refugees in India. Rights of persons involved in hazardous work With regard to hazardous cleaning of the septic tanks, Commission has issued an advisory to the local bodies to provide safety equipments and to ultimately adopt mechanical cleaning. The Commission also ensures that compensation is paid to the victims of hazardous cleaning and ensures that mechanical cleaning is adopted in all the places. Right to water & sanitation NHRC regularly hold meetings on right to water on accessibility and availability on clean and safe drinking water. NHRC also emphasie the need to encourage traditional water conserving practices. NHRC has also published books on Right to water & sanitation. Right to Health NHRC has developed a Charter of Patients’ Rights, a guidance document to formulate concrete mechanisms so that Patient’s Rights are given adequate protection and operational mechanisms 22 | HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL www.nhrc.nic.in, covdnhrc@nic.in, @India_NHRC