This document shares the stories of several victims who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Many of them suffered for years while working with asbestos or living with those exposed to it. Their conditions have progressed to become incurable by the time of diagnosis. They face ongoing health issues and financial difficulties obtaining medical treatment. The compensation payments they have received or are awaiting have provided some relief but also frustration over the long-term impacts to their lives and health from asbestos exposure.

1. Many victims have been identified over last few years and many of them has a story to
share. This July it was decided to capture few of the stories which were distinguished and
marked. Most of them have suffered the pain and agony over many years, but are still living
a life of suffering. The pain that left then drifted from life, is still living with them. Most
people diagnosed with the disease has worked or lived in an environment with asbestos
and developed the disease/ cancer decades later. Unfortunately, when they are diagnosed
with the disease, it is already at a late stage, and incurable. Because of this long “in
between” period and because asbestos has been a part of their lives, it is mostly older men/
women who are diagnosed today; numbers continue to rise as the effects of decades of
asbestos use manifests. Since, most patients are older and in poor health and economics
conditions, it also limits their treatment possibilities.
This will be an ongoing process and a web page will be dedicated to such brief stories from
across the country.
POOJA GUPTA

2. Name- J. Herbert
Age- 85 years
Diagnosed- 2014
Disability- 20-30%
Status- Primary Victim
Received his 1st instalment of compensation on July 2018.
Mr. Herbert is paralysed below waist since 1998 and is unable
to move on his own. His two sisters are taking care of his daily
chores and it becomes really tough for them to keep calm
sometimes. He still has fissures and cracks on his hand from the
past. He had suffered severely from manually mixing the
asbestos pulp for sheet making. As per his sisters there were
days when he was not even able to eat on his own due to the
bruises.
He had worked about 40 years in the Asbestos plant and the
compensation that he received made him cry.
“So less for such a long service, I gave my entire life to the
company and what they are giving me is nothing”.
In his last phase of life he seemed ignorant of the fact that the
company is compensating and that he received such a small
amount, what cringed him was the fact that the company still
is confidently using asbestos, still creating an upsetting and
unfortunate atmosphere.
Name- Sawra Bee
Age- 72 years
Diagnosed- 2016
Disability- 20%
Status- Secondary Victim
Haven’t received her compensation yet.
While living with her husband, Sawra bee used to do daily
house hold chores while her husband was working in the
loading department of Asbestos Cement Ltd.
Washing his clothes and cleaning the house made her sick. Her
son bought her thrice before she was diagnosed as a positive
case. With severe chest and abdominal pain, she went
breathless while talking. A sad state, where she is still waiting
for her compensation so that she can get some medical
treatment, which her son can’t afford.

3. “I don’t want to live this painful life, it would have been better
if I would have died”
Looking forward for the money, she along with her son comes
to the camp every time while waiting for their turn. It takes
almost a year for T&N to complete the legal process for the
diagnosed cases to give the compensation.
She will receive her compensation once the process is clear.
Name- Premlata Newton
Age- 60 years
Diagnosed- 2016
Disability- 20%
Status- Primary Victim
Received his 1st instalment of compensation on July 2018.
A nurse herself working in ACL health centre, Premlata Newton
is now the victim of asbestos. She has treated many patients
and had actively participated in various health programs
organised by ACL, now finds breathing difficult.
The chest pain and palpitation are taking away all her energy
and most of the time she spends hers days on the bed. She
brings someone along all the way from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh,
to help her. She says that she faints frequently and needs
someone to constantly assist her.
Her post-working life is not the same as she imagined 30 years
ago when she dreamt of living a peaceful life with her two sons.
Now most of her time goes to the doctors and her ill health,
which she remorse.
Name- Urmila Tiwari
Age- 71 years
Diagnosed- 2018
Disability- 20%
Status- Secondary Victim
Married at 13 years of age, Urmila Tiwari had been living in the
vicinity of asbestos since then.
Her husband died some 20 years ago because of “TB” while
working in the factory. She never thought his death can be of
any other reason, until recently, when she had same symptoms
as her dead husband and was diagnosed as “positive ARD”.
She had same symptoms as her husband from last three years
and this time when the medical camp took place she decided

4. to come and get a check-up done. To her surprise she was
diagnosed in her very 1st attempt and unlike many others she
won’t have to come again and again to get diagnosed.
In her own words “If I would have known about the disease
year’s back when my husband died, I would have given him
better treatment. I don’t want my sons to get the disease, we
have lived here all our lives, till my husband died. If I can get the
disease will they too??”
A question left unanswered for many to think.
Name- Sunderlal Burman
Age- 61 years
Diagnosed- 2018
Disability- 20%
Status- Primary Victim
It’s been 32 years that Sunderlal Burman left his job at asbestos
cement Ltd. but apparently asbestos haven’t left him. With one
functional eye, he came twice before he got diagnosed for ARD.
He said he lost his eyesight of the right eye when an asbestos
fibre entered his eyes while working as a labour in the pulp
plant.
It’s been so many years and he does not want to recall the un-
fateful day. With his deteriorating condition and age he is
unable to see from the left eye too.
“I don’t know how much I’ll get, but hope I’ll be able to get
some treatment for my eyes, I don’t want to lose the other eye
too.”
Scared of his future he sat quietly while trying to guess the
amount he will receive as compensation.
Name- Droupadi Bai
Age- 72 years
Diagnosed- 2018
Disability- 20%
Status- Secondary Victim
The Victims travels long way to attend the medical camps,
sometimes has to stay for 3-4 days if diagnosed with ARD. Such
an example is Mrs. Droupadi Bai, who in her eighties is unable
to travel alone and comes all the way from a village named
Hinouta which is about 30 km away from Kymore, MP where
the medical camp takes place. She along with her daughter-in-

5. law travels most of the part by bus, while her son cycles all the
way from Hinouta. He manages to bring both the mother and
the wife turn by turn from the bus stand to camp site.
This was her 3rd time to attend the camp and this time she was
diagnosed with ARD. She has been suffering from severe chest
pain and breathing problems from last 5 years but was not
being diagnosed as positive. ARD being a progressive disease
showed on her x-ray plate this time.
“I feel bad for my son, he spends so much on my treatment. If I
get some money it will be easier for him to get my treatment
done and also my granddaughter will be able to go school. I
want to see her study before I die.”