Annual Report 2010-2011 not otherwise considered to be at risk. Research studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) have time and again brought forth the fact that silicosis is not only a serious threat to the health of all those who are engaged in occupations that are potentially exposed to crystalline silica dust but is a constant health hazard for people living in the vicinity where these occupations are carried out. Exposure to crystalline silica dust, even for a short period of time can cause silicosis and lead to gradual impairment of lungs in few years along with other temporary or permanent disabilities and finally death. Unlike other diseases, there are no symptoms whatsoever whereby one can come to know about the onslaught of the disease in its early stages. A frequent cause of death in people with silicosis is silico-tuberculosis or lung cancer. Respiratory insufficiencies due to massive fibrosis and heart failure are other causes of death. However, due to lack of awareness even among the doctors, silicosis is often confused with other diseases. The number of persons who die from silicosis in India is high but there is no statistics available concerning these deaths. It has also been established that there is no medical treatment for silicosis. It is, thus, a disabling, irreversible, fatal disease and continues to progress even when contact with silica is stopped Needless to mention, it profoundly affects the work productivity and economic and social well-being of workers, their families and dependents. 5.13 Silicosis is both a health issue and a human rights issue as it impacts not only on the right to life but also on the right to live with dignity of all those affected by it and their families. With a view to examine the issue, the Commission during 2009-2010 constituted an Expert Group on Silicosis under the chairmanship of one of its Member, Shri P.C. Sharma. As reported in the NHRC’s Annual Report for the year 2009-2010, the first meeting of the Expert Group was convened in the NHRC in January 2010. It identified the silicosis-prone industries and decided to involve preventive, remedial and rehabilitative measures to deal with the problem of silicosis. Moreover, it suggested payment of compensation to the affected persons. Accordingly, the Commission has adopted a two-pronged approach to tackle the issue of silicosis. On the one hand, it is considering individual cases and has directed the concerned State Governments to give compensation to the victim, and on the other hand, it has devised preventive, rehabilitative and remedial measures to deal with the issue of silicosis. These measures are: Preventive Measures (i) (ii) (iii) The occupational health survey and dust survey on half yearly basis may be made mandatory in suspected hazardous industries. All the enrolled workers must be medically examined before entering into the employment. The workers should be clinically examined with chest radiography and pulmonary function test to rule out any respiratory disorder. State/UT governments should encourage development and promotion of various costeffective engineering control measures to manage silica dust through surveillance of processes or operations where silica is involved Implementation of precautionary measures including the protective gears for the workers NHRC 63