Annual Report 2010-2011 of silicosis-prone industries may make mandatory by the concerned enforcement authorities. (iv) Dust control devices should be installed to reduce the dust generation at the workplace. National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) has developed control devices for agate, grinding and quarts crushing industries based on the principle of local exhaust ventilation. The use of wet drilling and dust extractors may be enforced by respective regulatory authorities. (v) The workers vulnerable to silicosis need to be made aware of the disease through wide publicity campaigns with the use of electronic and print media. This will also improve self-responding of cases and facilitate early detection. (vi) Silicosis is a notified disease under the Mines Act 1952 and the Factories Act 1948. Silicosis may also be made a notified disease under the Public Health Act. As such all district/primary health centres/hospitals in the country will have to report the cases/ suspected cases of silicosis to the Government. (vii) There is a necessity to develop Master Trainers to impart training to all public health doctors/paramedics for early diagnosis and detection of silicosis. (viii) Less hazardous substitutes to silica should be found out for use in place of silica. (ix) Industrial units which are silica prone should have an Occupational Health and Safety Committees (OHSC) with the representation from workers and Health Care Providers. (x) Silicosis control programme should be integrated with already existing Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP). (xi) A mechanism to have intersectoral coordination among departments such as Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Directorate General of Factory Advice Services Labour Institute, National Institute of Occupational Health, Tuberculosis Association of India and civil society organizations to evolve an appropriate strategy to deal with the dual problems of silicosis and tuberculosis may be set up at the Centre and State level. Remedial Measures (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) 64 In each of the district where a silicosis-prone industry, quarrying or a big construction projects are on, there is a need to identify a facility for diagnosis of silicosis. The District Tuberculosis Officer must collect and maintain accurate information and documentation on a number of workplaces and workers at risk from silica exposure. The accountability for the implementation and control over the rules & regulation of Laws must be reviewed time to time. The National /State Social Security Board set up under the Unorganized Worker’s Social Security Act, 2008 should recommend welfare schemes to be formulated for the welfare of the unorganized workers who are at risk of contracting silicosis as well as those already affected and their families. The Central Government may consider extending the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, a health insurance scheme for BPL families and extended subsequently to some other vulnerable groups, to the workers at risk of contracting silicosis and their families. NHRC