Silicosis: A public health emergency in India

Occupational health is a public health emergency, long ignored in India, primarily as it is considered more of a class issue than a public health problem. The economic impact of mortality and morbidity associated with occupational diseases (OD) and accidents at work is nowhere a priority, resulting in the absence of reliable estimates and credible data on ODs. There are no laws for the protection and preservation of health at work for over 90% of workers in the unorganised sector. These should be a priority across economic sectors, along with laws to compensate workers and citizens for environmental contamination. In spite of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 for the workers in the organised sector, and the Employees' Compensation Act, 1923 for both, organised and unorganised sectors, most of the victims have to depend upon doles paid by the State schemes for financial assistance in case of silicosis.