NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION those belonging to the economically disadvantaged sections of the society, have access to better, affordable, accessible and more comprehensive health care facilities. The given chapter throws light on the work on the right to health undertaken by the Commission during the year 2017-2018. A. Silicosis 6.4 Silicosis is a fibrotic lung disorder caused by inhalation, retention and pulmonary reaction to reaction to crystalline silica, as a result of exposure during mining, stone crushing and quarrying activities. The Commission has been pursuing the issue of silicosis through series of Regional Review meetings, Conferences, making recommendations, including Special Report on Silicosis to Parliament. The Commission had adopted twin pronged approach to deal with the issue of silicosis. On one side, it has made recommendations to pay compensation on individual complaint received by it and on the other side, it has recommended and reviewed various legislations, policy and monitoring mechanisms to deal with this occupational hazard. The Commission organized a series of meetings with the Experts on Silicosis, which were held on 23rd January, 7th February, and 6th April 2017 to give concrete suggestions with regard to preventive, remedial, compensatory and rehabilitative measures to alleviate the problem of silicosis suffered by the affected workers and their family members. The suggestions were later drafted in the form of recommendations. 6.5 The Commission has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court of India in writ petition (Civil) No. 110 of 2006 (Peoples’ Rights and Social Research Centre Vs Union of India), submitting its recommendations on preventive, remedial, rehabilitative and compensation aspects of Silicosis. 6.6 Some of these important recommendations pertain to Survey on silicosis which includes mapping of factories/mines/industries/establishment to assess the extent/dimensions of the problem of silicosis; laying of uniform standards for permissible limit of silica dust; medical examination of individuals before commencing their employment in silica prone industries; rehabilitative measures including extending the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana to silicosis victims and their families; monthly pension to the widow of the deceased victim along the lines of the Old Age Pension; further extending the interim relief of Rs 3 lakhs to 5 lakhs in cases of deaths due to silicosis; strengthening of legislative framework by covering all the mining, quarrying and stone crushing units irrespective of their number of employees under one of the health and safety Acts, namely, The Mines Act, 1952, The Factory Act,1948 and The Building and other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act,1996. The complete recommendations can be seen in Chapter-19 of this report. Annual Report 2017-2018 79