Report of the SC-appointed investigation team

1. Prepared By
Dr H N Saiyed
Ex Director, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad
Dr H G Sadhu
Scientist F, National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad
Shri Amulya Nidhi , Public Health Expert
Smt Shamarukh Mehra, Environmental Health Expert

2. Silicosis M P State - Report of the Supreme Court Investigation Team on Silicosis 42
Based on media reports and Destined to Die-Part 5 report describing villages of widows and
letters of BMO, Narbar Block, Shivpuri, the Investigation Team decided to visit this district.
The Team visited 2 villages, namely Majhera (Shivpuri Block) and Pipalkhadi (in Narbar
Block) and interacted with widows in the villages.
During the visit, it was found that a number of stone mines were operational across 6 blocks
of Shivpuri. Local activists provided a list of 48 villages where large number of mine workers
are affected with TB and other respiratory problems. (Annexure 33)
During the visit of Majhera village, the Team met with 32 widows most of whose
husbands had worked in the mines for several years. There were many other ailing
patients who are receiving treatment for TB. One widow, named Amu wife of
Shyama, lost her husband, 4 sons, 1 daughter and 3 daughters in law all of whom
used to work in the mines. As per media reports, this village has 92 widows.
During the visit of the Team to Pipalkhadi village, the Team met with 72 widows most
of whose husbands used to work in the mines. (Annexure 34). The Team visited
CHC, Narbar and talked with Block Medical Officer Dr. R R Mathur. It was found that
7 cases of TB were diagnosed from Pipalkhadi village with a population of about in
the last 1 year. As per Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), the
incidence (number cases per year) of TB incidence is 216 per 1 lakh population.
Given that the population of Pipalkhadi village is 492 (Annexure 35 as per the report
of CMHO ) the incidence of TB is almost 7 times more than expected number. On
several occasions, District officials attributed the high rate of TB to alcoholism.
However, when asked about the prevalence of alcohol related diseases, such as liver
cirrhosis, they could not provide any detail. In meetings with the Collector of Shivpuri,

3. Silicosis M P State - Report of the Supreme Court Investigation Team on Silicosis 43
District TB Officer, CMHO and Deputy Director of Health and Safety, it was
established that the pattern of deaths could not be correlated to alcoholism. Further,
when asked whether the situation is similar among the same tribe residing in other
villages, the answer was in the negative. The Investigation Team feels that alleged
alcoholism is a way of side-lining the actual issue of high rate of TB/silicosis in
the mine workers of Shivpuri district.
The Investigation Team also noted the report of the District TB Officer dated 17th
Aug
2016 addressed to Deputy Collector Shivpuri where it is found that the emphasis of
the survey camp was mainly on the alcoholism suggesting a link between alcohol
consumption and high incidence of TB in the district. The emphasis should have
been more on the mining activity leading to silica exposure and occurrence of TB.
Such type of surveys published in media would give a false impression in general
public that high incidence of death in male population is due to alcoholism rather than
silicosis. (Annexure: 35). A recent media report dated 26th
March, 2017 shows shift in
the opinion of the District TB Officer (DTO), Shivpuri wherein he is quoted to state
that mine workers contract silicosis due to inhalation of dust (Annexure 36)
The Collector assured that screening of silicosis will be arranged during the period
15th
April to 15th
May 2017 during Gram Uday to Bharat Uday programme. The
Team suggested that the survey should be done in collaboration with local NGOs.