NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
has 30 bedded indoor-hospitalization facilities, there is an acute shortage of infrastructural
facilities and specialists in the Centre and a good accommodation is lying unutilized. It is
suggested that an appropriate directions need to be issued by the State Government to post
suitable medical personnel and start utilization of the 30–bed indoor hospital facilities at the
Centre.
6.14 The Special Rapporteur, North Zone, NHRC, visited Nagaland to observe the status
of State’s health care. The Nagaland State Government has withdrawn the monetary benefits
of 2/4/6 advance increments, which was earlier granted to doctors to achieve Post Graduate
Diploma and Degree Qualifications, the net result of this would be that in future when all
the top echelons of the departmental doctors would retire then there would be no qualified
Naga doctor holding PG Diploma/degree qualifications even at the highest levels in the
Department. The Commission has recommended the state government to take appropriate
measure in this regard.
6.15 The Special Rapporteur, Central Zone, NHRC, visited Patna Medical College and
Hospital (PMCH) in Patna, Bihar to assess the functioning of the institution. The replacement
and purchase of the required equipments must be done at the earliest. The PMCH is facing
more of a planning and procurement issue than the shortage of funds. There is a need to form
a management committee consisting of some local and outside experts, patients bodies, and
political representative along with health department together to set out the monthly targets
and to review them on regular basis.
E.
Illustrative Cases on Health Dealt by NHRC
1.
Death of Workers due to Silicosis in West Bengal
(Case No. 1209/25/15/2014)
6.16 The Commission received a complaint dated 23.7.2014 from Shri Samit Kumar Carr,
Secretary General, Occupational Safety and Health Association of Jharkhand, drawing
attention of the Commission about the death of workers suffering from Silicosis in West
Bengal. According to him, out of 189 workers who had gone to work in Asansol, Burdwan,
12 workers had died because of occupational lung disease. He enclosed the death certificates
of Saifuddin Molla, Nasir Molla, Abul Paik, Mujaffar Molla and Babusona
6.17 A similar complaint was also received in the Commission from Shri Naba Dutta from
Nagarik Manch, Kolkata alleging migration of large number of workers from Sundarbans,
South 24 Parganas to Burdwan District to work in different mines and stone crushing factories
during the period between 2010- 2013. It was alleged that out of these, 13 workers died as
they contracted silicosis and many more are counting their days. It was requested that the
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Annual Report 2017-2018