Labour Ministry removes paper on Asbestos ban from its website

[Gopal Krishna]

Labour Ministry removes paper on Asbestos ban from its website

At India-EU Seminar 2011, Labour Ministry  presented paper disclosing "Government of India is considering ban on the mining and use of chrysotile asbestos in India to protect the workers and the general population"Mining of asbestos has been banned, but not it's trade, manufacturing and use. The 2011 paper has been removed from  http://labour.nic.in/lc/Background%20note.pdf 

Labour Ministry had constituted a committee to ensure compliance with the verdict of Supreme Court dated 27 January 1995 upholding right to health as part of right to life in Consumer Education and Resource Centre v Union of India case. The verdict required state and central governments to update their laws in the light of fresh resolution of ILO. The committee remains dormant. It failed to submit it's report. ILO resolution 2006 recommend elimination of all kinds of asbestos because it's "safe and controlled use" is not possible. Some 70 countries have banned all kinds of asbestos. Indian ban is partial. Full ban requires ban on it's trade, manufacturing and use. 

Notably, in educational institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Yoga centre and the swimming pool in the vicinity of JNU and Kendriya Vidyalaya are run under asbestos roofs unmindful of the fact that some 8, 000 railway stations are in the process of removing asbestos roofs because of hazards from the carcinogenic mineral fibers of foreign asbestos. Even courts, legislative building, schools, medical colleges, hospitals and security establishments are ridden with asbestos. There is no building in India which is asbestos. Most vehicles have asbestos in their brake shoes and brake linings. Sad part is that the removal and disposal of asbestos is being done in a very unscientific manner endangering unsuspecting passengers and communities. 

Is it logical and scientific on the part of the governments to knowingly subject present and future generations of Indians to the killer fibers of asbestos under the influence of the anonymous foreign and Indian donors of the ruling parties? Indians continue to be exposed to Russian and Chinese asbestos, now that Canada and Brazil have banned asbestos in their own countries with no relief in sight. 

Gopal Krishna

Web: www.asbestosfreeindia.org

www.toxicswatch.org