Workers in Godhra factories succumb to silicosis

Workers in Godhra factories succumb to silicosis
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

VADODARA, SEPT 15: The trauma centre at the Sir Sayajirao General Hospital saw some 25 silicosis patients from Chhotaudepur taluka brought for a diagnostic check-up, conducted by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad, on Thursday.

The check-up was ordered by the Gujarat High Court after hearing a public interest litigation by Vikalp, a voluntary organisation of Vadodara.

More than 300 people from 14 villages in the taluka are feared suffering from the disease: all of them work in quartz-crushing factories of Godhra. In the last 20 days, three people have died, all suspectedly of silicosis.

Their pale and weary faces give tell-tale evidence of their suffering. Chiman Kidar has been working in the crushing factory for over four years now and cannot even breathe. He pants while speaking and has been surviving on biscuits and cha

for over three months now. To add to his woes, Kidar lost his 16-year-old daughter to what is surmised as silicosis by the family and Vikalp.

Says Katya Kinnar, another patient, of Bharkunda village: ``I have been suffering from the disease for over one year now and the doctor there treated me for tuberculosis. After so long, I don't think I can live any more.''

These workers have on average been working for 12 hours daily for a paltry wage of Rs 150-200 per month. Among the sufferers are women, who sieve the crushed material and fill them in bags. The silica produced after crushing quartz is used for manufacturing glass.

For Veeji Purchi, who has been working in the quartz crushing factories for about two years now, the symptoms appeared one year ago. Purchi says, ``I cannot breathe properly, cannot eat and haven't been going to work for more than two months now.''

Life has come to a standstill for 19-year-old Dharmishtha Naika, who is also suspected to suffer from the disease. She says,``I have been working in the factory for four years and now have great difficulty breathing.''

There is not much hope for the sufferers as silicosis is incurable. Says an expert from NIOH, Dr Y K Sharma, ``This is a non-contagious disease, but it is incurable. Adequate prevention should be taken by the workers.'' The team of five from NIOH comprised a radiologist, a clinical expert, a pulmonary physiologist and two others for technical support.