Rajasthani miners' protest continues

Rajasthani miners' protest continues

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Rajasthani-miners-protest-continues/articleshow/12497436.cms

AHMEDABAD: Mine labourers from Rajasthan dare the rising mercury in the city as they continue their protest in front of National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) office at Meghani Nagar on Sunday. The labourers have been demanding the reports of their health check ups conducted by NIOH first in 2005 and again in 2011.

The labourers who have gathered, since Friday, under the banner of Rajasthan State Mine Labour Union claim that they have sought the reports several times in the past, but to no avail. Without the report, the laborers and their families have not been able to get free medical treatment and claim compensations for deaths due to lung diseases.

Dharmendra Gorna, secretary of Rajasthan State Mine Labour Union said, "We will continue with the protest until we get the results."

R K Manohar, secretary of Occupational Health and Safety Association, which is supporting the protest, explained that NIOH had conducted a health checkup of the workers in 2005 but never revealed the report. A total of 20 mine workers have already died since then but their families could not claim any compensation because of the absence of reports. "The report of the check up in 2005 was never revealed. NIOH, however, conducted another survey in 2011. The officials promised to give us the result by February 2011 and later postponed to March 29," said Manohar.

Director of NIOH, P K Nag refused to comment saying that the matter is sub judice.