🏛️ Government Invitations
OSHAJ India has been invited by the Government of Jharkhand and the Government of West Bengal to make presentations on critical issues including:
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) frameworks
- Silicosis identification, prevention, and elimination plans
- Relief and rehabilitation policies for affected workers
- Social security and compensation mechanisms
- Amendments to the Factories Act, 1948
These invitations recognize OSHAJ’s deep domain expertise and our trusted relationship with state governments.
🏛️National Human Rights Commission
In 2013, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) invited OSHAJ India to present a paper at the two-day National Conference on Health Care as a Human Right held at the India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi.
Paper Title: “Human Rights Perspective of Occupational Safety & Health for Sustainable Production Process”
The paper was presented by Samit Kumar Carr, Secretary General, OSHAJ India, and was subsequently circulated by the NHRC for information and necessary action.
Key Themes:
- Availability, Accessibility, Quality and Affordability of Health Care Services – Need for Universal Health Care
- Women and Child Health – Important Issues
- Clean Drinking Water, Hygiene and Sanitation
- Occupational Health and Safety
Date: 05-06 November 2013
Venue: India International Centre (IIC), New Delhi
Children Educational Need Assessment Workshop
OSHAJ organised two workshop /consultation simultaneously on 31st August 2014 at Dr Sri Krishna Sinha Sansthan. Jamshedpur. Workshop /consultations were held on “Educational Need Assessment of the Children of Silicosis Affected Families” and “Silicosis Campaign Update”. The objectives were to hold such workshop and consultations to make assessment of the need of the children using structured questionaires and to make aware of the silicosis affected families that government of Jharkhand has accepted prevalence of silicosis in their report submitted to National Human Rights Commission and has given reference of formation of committee of retired judges in 2012 to decide amount of compensation. Meanwhile NHRC declared award of compensation for RS 4 Lakh for each to the kin of the workers who died of silicosis copy of which is sent to Samit Kumar Carr, Secretary General of OSHAJ.
NHRC also forwarded the report of govt. of Jharkhand to OSHAJ for its comments. OSHAJ decided to hold such consultation on Silicosis Campaign Update to receive inputs from the affected families. Very surprising information was shared by some students that some adolescent boys are engaged in construction work to earn money they did not attend the consultation but has sent their lists of books they rquire. 58 children ( 1 yr to 18 yrs age groups ) and 45 parents who are mostly workers attended the consultations.
Many dignitaries attended the consultations. Need assessment exercise by the students was conducted by Dr Ila Dutta, Ms Jayshree Roy Chowdhury, Ms Jaeswari Mardi, Ms Laxmi Mardi etc. Silicosis Campaign Update session was also addressed by Mr Hari Ballav Singh Arshi, Mr Dinesh Shrama , Mr T P Ojha, Mr M Soren and others participated in the discussion and presented their views on continuing their education as well as furthering silicosis campaign. Finally the participants clubbed together where DR H S Paul described how silicosis occurs and encouraged the children and their parents to continue campaign till they achieve their rights. The programme was concluded with Magic show for one hour.
Consultations resolved with the following resolutions:
1. Books will be distributed among the 30 students of class X, X1 and XII
2. Special drive will be given to facilitate 11 aspirants to appear in next secondary board exam to be held in February/march 2015 for which what ever assistance they need will be provided by OSHAJ. OSHAJ is running a private coaching centre engaging a teacher for the students of class X.
3. OSHAJ has facilitated Sajan Mardi brother of Laxmi Mardi), who passed secondary board exam in first division but could not took admission in the college student, to take admission in Ghatshila college and facilitated him to buy a spectacle as prescribed by the ophthalmologist as he developed vision related problem.
4. Silicosis campaign update and consultation concluded with the following resolution
• Compensation to be paid to those workers who do not have medical records because the concerned authority and regulatory agencies failed to check dust pollution, so, workers inhaled silica dust and developed silicosis and died. All of them belonged to same epidemiological cohort who died after suffering from silicosis.
• Medical records and X-Ray plates to be given by the MGM Hospital to 78 silica dust affected workers who were brought to MGM College Hospital Jamshedpur for medical investigation from 09th June to 12th June 2014.
• Medical investigation of 50 more workers to be completed at the earliest.
Participants of the consultation signed the memorandum with above stated demands and signature collection is going on in Musaboni area that will be submitted before the government.
Ms Laxmi Mardi has joined her Nursing Training at Metas Adventist College on 17th September 2014
We are in process of developing draft to file an intervention petition in the Supreme Court.
🤝 Other Key Partnerships
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- Government of Jharkhand – Labour Department, Health Department
- Government of West Bengal – Labour Department
- International Labour Organization (ILO) – aligned guidelines
- World Health Organization (WHO) – aligned OSH protocols
- Azim Premji Foundation – project partnership
- Various trade unions and worker collectives