Asbestose Jansunwai Report

8/6/2019 Asbestose Jansunwai Report

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A s b e s t o s M in e

VICTIMS SPEAK OUT …

Report of PublicHearing

Organised by

J.O.H.A.R.(Jharkhandis’ Organisation for Human Rights)



&

mm&P (mines, minerals and People)

Background

Roro, a chrysotile asbestos mine, just 20 k.m. from the district HQChaibasa (West Singhbhum), in Jharkhand (India ) stands abandonedsince1982. It has become a health scourge for the dozen and oddvillages living at its foothills. A pile of asbestos waste (mine and milltailings) the size of a hillock, mixed with chromite has lain atop the hillsof Roro (see cover photo). Through wind, storm water and other

means it spreads, contaminating the land, rice fields, water, bringingsuffering and death to a once self sufficient Ho Adivasi community-the first people, of this Tribal State. The river Roro flowing from thesehills joins the river Subernarekha downstream.

Twenty years ago, Hyderabad Asbestos Cement Products Ltd. (nowknown as Hyderabad Industries Limited) mined asbestos from Roro tomanufacture asbestos cement products. According to former workersthe company abandoned the mines when they became unprofitable. Intheir pursuit for profits, they have left behind a poisoned valley andtrail of death.

On 20th December 2003, Jharkhandis’Organisation for Human Rights

(J.O.H.A.R) mines minerals and People

(mm&P) organised a Jun Sunwai (public

hearing) in Chaibasa for the victims of Roro asbestos mines. Eminent panellistsfrom different parts of the country werepresent.

Tribal leader speaks out



Prior to the Jun Sunwai, independent investigations and fact-finding

visit by a team of experts was organised by J.O.H.A.R. and mm&P in

2002-20031.

The Fact Finding Team (FFT) findings indicated that the improperdisposal of toxic asbestos and chromite wastes by the mining companypose a serious health threat to the local community and theenvironment. The preliminary health survey of 14 villages around theRoro hills, with 45% of the respondents being former workers of theRoro asbestos mines. It indicated possible association between theasbestos exposures and the adverse health effects e.g. low back pain,dyspnea, hemoptysis, and blindness etc.

1 The Report ‘The Blighted Hills of Roro’ is available at: www. birsa.org



RORO VICTIMS SPEAK OUT

Objectives of the Jun Sunwai :

1. Highlight the grave public health threat posed by the asbestosexposure.

2. Highlight the issue of criminal negligence by Hyderabad AsbestosCement Product Limited (now known as Hyderabad IndustriesLimited) the lease owner of the mine.

Panellists at the Jun Sunwai :

Dr Tushar Kant Joshi, Director, Centre for Occupational andEnvironmental Health, Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. Member of Indian Association of Occupational Health and CollegiumRamazzini, an international academic society of occupational

health experts (physicians and scientists) that examines criticalissues in occupational and environmental medicine.

Dr Arin Basu, Epidemiologist, Assistant Director, FogartyInternational Training Program on Environmental andOccupational Health in India, Kolkata, West Bengal.

Dr Rajan Patil, Epidemiologist, Bangalore, Karnataka.

Mr. Sreedhar Ramamurthi, Geologist, Director, Academy of Mountain Environics, New Delhi.

Advocate Chandra Bhushan Deogam, Advocate & TribalLeader Jharkhand.

Ms. Madhumita Dutta, member-Ban Asbestos Network of India(BANI), New Delhi.

Organisational team:

Coordinator: Samit (Bapi) Kr. Carr, mm&P

Etwari Nag J.O.H.A.R, Chaibasa

Shyam Sundi, J.O.H.A.R, Chaibasa

Tiril Tiria, J.O.H.A.R, Chaibasa

Tirth Raj Biruli, J.O.H.A.R, Chaibasa

Mahadev Oraon, J.O.H.A.R, Chaibasa

Bir Singh Sinku, Director, BIRSA, Chaibasa

Ramesh Jerai, Working Secretary, J.O.H.A.R, Chaibasa

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Participation of villagers at the Jun Sunwai :

Number of villagers present atthe Jun Sunwai: 1500(approximately)

Names of villages from wherepeople participated: Hathimanda,Hessabandh, Jugidaru, Purnapani,Singijari, Pasubera, Roro, Tilaisud ,Kainuwa, Kabragutu, Gundipusi,Garahatu, Bandijari, Ganjara,Barkela, Pandabir, Gotompi, Jojohatu, Anjedbera.

Adv Deogam & a victim

Medical Camp

A medical check-up camp was organised at the site of Jun Sunwai. Twogeneral physicians – Dr Chandrawati Boipai and Dr Jatuwa Dorai –conducted the health camp.

Major findings:Respiratory problems (persistent cough, haemoptysis, pain in chestwhile breathing etc)—were common health complaints.

Problems of Malnutrition: anaemia, eye ailments (cataract and nightblindness), pain in lower back, weakness and tiredness.

Observations and recommendations by the panellists

Most of the ex-workers testifying before the panel were from theunderground mines and only a few from the asbestos milling plant.Most of the workers from the milling plant (3 shifts a day, with 40workers in one shift), according to the testimonials of the ex-workershave died due to “TB like illness”.

It has to be noted that it is quite likely that workers who were relativelyhealthier than other workers attended the Jun Sunwai. Thisrepresented the survivor population who escaped injury due to anumber of reasons. On the other hand, workers who had sufferedillness, because of the severity of their illnesses were likely to be toosick to attend the meeting or have died.

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Observations

Deplorable operations of the mines/milling plant by thecompany:

Ex-worker narrated appalling lack of health and safety measuresin the mines and milling plant.

Ex-workers testifying to the panel reported high number of accidents inside the mines and poor working conditions. Most of them reported collapsing of underground mine walls and roofs,falling of big blocks of rocks or blasting operations as reasons foraccidents.

Violation of occupational health and safety norms, and

environmental norms:

No routine medical check ups were conducted of the workers inthe mines or milling plant.

From the testimonials, it appears that the exposure to asbestosdust was manifolds higher than any prescribed limit. (Indianworkplace exposure limit for white asbestos fibres is .1f/cc,whereas international standards are .01f/cc)

No exposure monitoring was carried out in the undergroundmines and the milling plant, as understood from the testimonials

No protective gear (goggles, gloves, boots) were provided toworkers working inside the underground asbestos mines. Someworkers said they were provided helmets, but not all were evengiven helmets.

Although the workers in the milling plant were given masks,there is no evidence of what sort of mask was provided, whetherit met the prescribed norms for protecting workers from inhalingfibres. Ex-workers from milling plant described the working areasinside the plant to be “full of dust”; “everywhere white dust” and“workers were white with crushed asbestos dust from head tofoot”. No change of clothing or shower facility was available at

workplace. Workers went back home in their work clothes, to bewashed by their family members.

High number of ex-workers reported of respiratory problems,back aches and blindness or some form of vision impairment.

No environmental monitoring was ever carried out during theoperations of the mines. Dumping of asbestos wasteshaphazardly on top the Roro hills.

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Suppression of information about hazards of asbestos:

Ex-workers testifying said they were not informed by thecompany about the hazards of asbestos, although the companywas very well aware of them. Since by the 1960’s there were

enough scientific evidence and cases to show carcinogenicproperty of all forms of asbestos. Besides, the company providedthe workers with ‘gur’ (jaggery) to eat, which indicated that thecompany knew that the mineral would affect the lungs of workers from the fibres. Since it has been a common practice inIndia to give milk and jaggery to workers with the belief thatthese would mitigate the toxic effect and hazardous workplaceexposures.

Workers who were medically examined by the company doctorspresent at the mine site when they complained of sickness werenever given any information about their health status.

Recommendations

11 Environmental monitoring of the area to assess the pastand ongoing damage caused by the asbestos-chromite wasteand its potential threat to public and environmental health of thearea by credible scientific institutions.

11 Immediate steps should be taken to stop the ongoingexposure of villagers to the toxic asbestos-chromite wastedumped on top of the Roro Hills.

11 Removal/ Remediation of all asbestos-chromitecontaminated areas around the mines and dumpsites.

11 A comprehensive health survey and institution of ongoingsurveillance of the communities living around the waste site andthorough medical check up of surviving ex-workers of Roro Minesand their immediate family members who have been exposed toasbestos by competent agency.

11 Compensation and treatment for every person whosehealth has been impaired due to exposure to asbestos from Roromines (ex-workers, family members, villagers).

11 Compensation to family members of Roro workers whohave died or are impaired due exposure to asbestos.

11 Compensation to the villagers whose farms have beendamage by the toxic waste.

11 Implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling (CERC,1995) of maintaining 40 years health record of every worker whohas worked in any asbestos handling facility (mines, plants,factories etc).

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11 Ensure payment of outstanding Provident Fund dues to theex-worker.

111 Hold Hyderabad Industries Limited accountable and liablefor the impairment of health and death of the workers due tounsafe working conditions and damage it has caused to the

people of Roro and surrounding villages.111 Make the government agencies responsible for ensuring

safe operations and closures of mines, protecting theenvironment and public health accountable for their criminalnegligence in discharging their duties as custodians of law of theland.

111 District administration in consultation with the villagersshould, explore alternative livelihood and poverty alleviationoptions for the affected villagers like-improved and appropriateagriculture, silk worm farming, water and soil conservation work.Besides, primary health care facility and PDS for food grain

should be set up in the villages.

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Summary of the testimonials

Testimonials by men and women testified to thepanellists.Name Category Narrations by the villagers1. Jeeban Tupid,Village-Kainuwa

Ex-worker,undergroundmines

Age- 50 years. Lost his leg whileworking in the Roro undergroundmines as a loader. Has almostlost his eyesight and has intensepain on his lower back. Till datethe mining company has paid nocompensation to him.

2. Pandu Pradhan,Village-Kabragutu


Age- 45 years. Almost lost hisvision while working as a timberman inside the undergroundmines. The company gave himspectacles, but no compensation.

3. LakhanDoraiburu,Village-Tilaisud

Ex-worker, millingplant

Age-70 years. Heavy equipmentfell on his leg while working in theplant. No proper treatment wasgiven to him for his injury;therefore he still has lot of pain inhis legs. Got his Provident Fund.Workers in milling plant weregiven jaggery to eat. Many of hisco-workers in the plant died whileworking or after the closure of the mines. Workers died of chestpain, spitting blood. No count of how many workers died and of what disease. No medical testswere done on workers while theywere employed. No informationwas divulged on the medicalconditions of the workers whowere examined by the companydoctors after reporting sick.

4. DhansinghBodra, Village-Roro


Age- 45 years. Worked as anoperator in the plant. Feels painin his chest while breathing and

has pain in his stomach. Did notget his Provident Funds.5. Chokro Boipai,Village-Pasubera


Age-50 years. Has become veryweak after working in the mines.Cannot do much work now. Didnot get his Provident Funds.

6. Sidiu Sundi,Village-Singijari


Age-55 years. Worked as asupervisor in the undergroundmines. Is suffering from

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Tuberculosis and stomach-intestinal ailments.

7. Bir Singh SundiVillage-Roro

Deputy Chief of Roro village(Saihayak Munda),son of an ex-Roro

worker

Age-35 years. His father used towork in the Roro mines. Manyvillagers died of diseases andinjuries while working in the

mines but no compensation wasgiven to them or their familymembers. After the closure of themines, along with the ex-workers,their family members alsosuffered from respiratorydiseases, vision impairment.About 28 persons, between theage group of 28-45 years, in theRoro village, suffer from TB likedisease, no medical diagnosishave been done to establish theirailment.Children play regularly on theasbestos waste dumped on thehills, sometimes getting injuredfrom the waste material. Thewaste material has beengradually sliding down towardsthe Roro village over years withwater and wind and has spread inthe whole area, especially on thefields. The fields have becomeunproductive and are lying fallowfor years. Villagers want thewaste lying on the top of the hillsto be removed.

8. Budni SirkaVillage-Kabragutu

Widow of ex-worker late KandeSirka

Age-55 years. Her husband usedto work in the milling plant. Whileworking in the plant, her husbandvomited blood. No medical testswere done or treatment given bythe company which led to herhusband’s death. Although herhusband died while working withthe mining company, thecompany gave no compensationto her after her husband’s death.She too has become very weakand keeps unwell. She has notvisited any doctor or done anymedical check ups.

9. Bir Singh Sundi,Village-Purnapani


Age-50 years. Has impairedvision. Did not get his PF dues.

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Many of his co-workers have diedfrom some kind of TB likedisease. Not sure whether it was

TB or some other disease, but allhad chest problems, breathingdifficulties, used to spit blood.

Workers inside the plant werealways covered with white dustfrom head to foot. There was dustall over the place. Workers weregiven jaggery to eat and mask tocover their noses. But only onemask was given, which theworkers used to wear in the plantand carry it back to their homesevery day. No shower orchanging facility was provided.Workers had same work and

home clothes. Workers were notaware of the dangers of asbestos.

The mining company did nohealth check ups.

10. Lidigi Kui,Village-Roro

Widow of an ex-worker-late MarkiSundi.

Age-55 years. Husband wasmurdered in 09.01.1980. Reasonunknown.

11. Bagun Bansing,Village-Jugidaru


Age-70 years. Worked in themines when it opened till theclosure. Used to operate thedumper. Had an accident insidethe mines, still suffers frombackache due to past injury.Cannot remember much from thepast.

12. Dumbi Boipai,Village-Roro


Age- 45 years. Worked only forfew years. Company used toprovide jaggery to the workers inthe plant, but not regularly.During his work in the plant, hesuffered from TB. Company gavehim Rs 1000 for his treatment. Hestill feels very weak and cannot

do any heavy work.13. Bonj Tamsoy,Village-Hessabandh


Age-50 years. Worked in themines for 12 years. Used tooperate the machine that pulledrocks outside the mines afterthey were mined in theunderground mines. Suffers fromsevere back pain.Some workers were given

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helmets inside the undergroundmines. No jaggery was given toworkers in the undergroundmines; only workers at the millingplant were given jaggery. Thecompany did no health check ups

of the workers.14. Jogen Sundi,Village-Kabragutu


Age-70 years. Worked as acarpenter, was involved in fittingwooden pillars inside the mines.Worked from beginning till theclosure of the mines. Injured hishand seriously when a filtermachine fell on him whileworking inside the mines. Thecompany gave no compensation.

15. Moika Sundi,Village-Kabragutu


Age 45 years. Worked only for afew years in the mines. Whileworking in the mines, his noseand ears bled, but the companyprovided no medical check up ortreatment.

16. Samu Hansda,Village-Kabragutu


Age-60 years. There were regularaccidents inside the mines;workers were not given helmets,goggles or any other protection.No medical check ups were done.Suffers from severe backacheand can not do any heavy work.

17. Dibru Tubid,Village-Hathimanda


Age-65 years. Worked in themines for 15 years. Only peopleworking as drillers or in themilling plants were given little

jaggery at times, not always.Many of the workers in the millingplant died from chest relateddiseases, not sure what it was.

There is no record of how manyworkers died.Got his PF dues.

18. Shanti Godsora,

Village-Hathimanda

Widow of ex-

worker lateHaricharanGodsora

Age-60 years. Her husband used

to work in the undergroundmines, contracted TB like diseaseafter the mines closure and diedafter a few years. Many of herhusband’s co-workers died of similar diseases.

19. Menjo Godsora,Village-Hathimanda

Widow of ex-worker SunaGodsora

Age-50 years. Husband worked inthe underground mines. Died of

TB like disease after the closure

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of the mines. She suffers fromchest pain and has pain in righthand.

20. Paikira Sundi,Village-Purnapani


Age-60 years. During his work inthe mines he received injuries onhis legs. Company gave him

medical treatment. But now hesuffers from pain in the stomachall the time.

21. Birsa Sundi,Village-Purnapani


Age-50 years. After working for 5years in the mines, he developed

TB and resigned from his work.22. Nundi Gope,Village-Purnapani


Age-60 years. Worked as anoperator in the undergroundmines. While working inside themines, he met with an accidentand received injuries on his leftleg. Company provided medicaltreatment to him. He has pooreyesight and cannot see at night.

23. Moran SinghKarpusaVillage-Gundipusi


Age-50 years. Worked as acarpenter. Didn’t suffer from anydisease while working in themines and has also received hisPF. Now suffering from impairedvision.

24. Mukri Tubid,Village-Gundipusi


Age-70 years. Used to operatepump inside the mines. Didn’tsuffer from any disease while

working in the mines. Now has lotof pain in his chest and hasbreathing problem. Has pain inhis knee.

Thanks to International Ban Asbestos Secretariat for thesupport to the Public Hearing.

email: [email protected]

website: http://www.btinternet.com/~ibas/

mines minerals & People B.I.R.S.A. Mines Monitoring CentreB6 Abilasha Apartments.11 A Purulea Road Ranchi 834001Jharkhand [email protected] http:// www.birsa.org

J.O.H.A.R.

P.O. Bag No 3Gaddi Tola – P.O. Chaibasa – Dist SinghbhumWest – Jharkhand – INDIA. [email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]

http://www.btinternet.com/~ibas/



http://www.birsa.org/

http://www.btinternet.com/~ibas/


http://www.birsa.org/




RORO VICTIMS SPEAK OUT 1

Asbestose Jansunwai Report

Documents

Transcript of Asbestose Jansunwai Report