Prof Ishwari Prasad, former Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Former consultant of World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Bank, Dr Barry Castleman, Daya Shankar, Resident Editor, Rashtriya Sahara, Pushpraj, author of Nandigram Diary and Rana Sengupta of MLPC, Rajasthan.
Prof Ishwari Prasad, former Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) argued against the externalization of health costs due to hazardous industries like asbestos industry. We cannot wait for studies and counting of dead bodies for government to act. The global evidence is incontrovertible.
Patna Declaration
Seeking environmental, occupational health infrastructure and
Prohibition on all forms of asbestos based products
Date: 24 December, 2012
Taking cognizance of the human rights violation involved in exposing people to killer asbestos
fibers and how even if few asbestos fibre reach the right places, it causes irreversible damage -
leading to asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma;
Asserting the need for inclusion of environmental and occupational health study in the medical education;
Appreciating Union Ministry of Labour revelation that the “Government of India is considering the ban on use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population against primary and secondary exposure to Chrysotile form of Asbestos" at page no. 28 of its concept paper at the two-day 5th India-EU Joint Seminar on “Occupational Safety and Health” during 19-20 September, 2011.
Recalling the Supreme Court’s order of 1995 reiterated in 2012 seeking the Union and state governments in the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC) vs Union of India case to examine/review the matter with regard to asbestos exposure in tune with the resolution of the International Labour Organisation (ILO);
Awaiting the recommendations of Union Labour Ministry’s Advisory Committee to implement Supreme Court order issued 15 years ago since ILO has also made certain specific directions vide its Resolution of 2006 introducing a ban on all mining, manufacture, recycling and use of all forms of asbestos.
Recollecting that Supreme Court’s order of 21st January, 2011 that took cognizance of the resolutions of ILO directing s government to take immediate preventive steps;
Endorsing World Health Organisation’s resolution of 2005 seeking elimination of all forms of asbestos;
Disapproving Union Ministry of Environment & Forests Experts Appraisal Committee on Industry for approving environmental clearance of asbestos plants;
Asserting the fact that so far some 55 countries have banned all forms of asbestos, and are
already using alternative building materials;
Underlining that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reconfirmed
that all commercial asbestos fibers - including chrysotile, the most commercially used form of
asbestos - cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. In addition, IARC newly confirmed that there is
sufficient evidence that asbestos causes ovarian cancer and reconfirmed asbestos causes laryngeal cancer;
Reminding the Government of India and State Government that there is incontrovertible evidence which creates a compelling logic for making India asbestos free;
Expressing solidarity with struggles ALL ACROSS THE NATION against Asbestos Factories
All public institutions must disclose the data regarding occupational diseases and occupational history, it should be mandatory for all public and private hospitals/ dispensaries and all medical practitioners.
Permanently stop the Asbestos factories at Mahua, Vaishali , Bhojpur and other parts of Bihar
Withdraw the cases against the protestors at Muzzafarpur and Mahua (Vaishali) and initiate criminal proceedings against the government and factory officials
We recommend that the Government should start efforts to decontaminate asbestos laden
buildings including schools, hospitals, railways and others
We urge the Governments at all level to adopt policy to not use asbestos containing building materials in Public building and adequately compensate the victims of asbestos-related diseases,
create a database of asbestos exposed people and victims as well as besides providing legal and
possible medical relief and taking preventive measures. We call on the government to create a
mesothelioma registry and a building registry of those facilities which have asbestos.
We urge the State of Bihar to ban Asbestos Product Use
We urge the Govt. of India to ban Asbestos Product Use
Adopted at Patna on December 24, 2012 at the Conference on Environmental and
Occupational Health which was inaugurated by Awadesh Narain Singh, Chairman, Bihar Legislative
Occupational Health which was inaugurated by Awadesh Narain Singh, Chairman, Bihar Legislative
Council.
+ comments + 1 comments
Wow ! Really ,This is a wonderful post. I enjoyed the information lot. I will bookmark this page. Thanks for sharing this important information. Thanks.
Upcoming Medical Conferences in India
My Conference Club
Post a Comment