Silicosis in Rajasthan: A Response

This is in response to the paper “Silicosis in Rajasthan: Trajectory of Policy Response” (EPW, 5 June 2021) by M K Devarajan and Alok Rajan. I congratulate the authors for this paper.

The paper presents in good detail, the problem of silicosis in Rajasthan and the efforts by the state to tackle it. There can be many “ifs” and “buts” but ultimately what counts is the result—thousands of silicosis victims in Rajasthan have received monetary relief. Way back, in Rajasthan, Silicosis Rules, 1955 were enacted by the state (notified on 23 March 1956) which indicates that the state had taken serious note of the potential hazards. What may have prompted the then government to enact these rules is not known, but probably, Rajasthan is the only state to make rules for silicosis management though early cases of silicosis were found in Kolar Gold Mines, Karnataka and not in Rajasthan.