District Collector Ashutosh Pednekar announced financial aid of Rs. 22 lacs to the mine workers suffering from asbestosis disease. 18 families from different tribal areas around Udaipur will get benefit from the aid.

This is the first relief announcement from the Government of Rajasthan after local media raised the issue few years back. Rs.3 Lac will be given to each family of the individual who died due to the killer disease, whereas Rs. 1 Lac for those who are suffering from Asbestosis.

Ashutosh Pednekar said, “Since the Election Code of Conduct is implemented in the State, the proposal will be send to the Election Commission and the commission will direct the procedure of implementation. All victims will get the aid amount directly in their bank accounts.”

A group of mine labors under the banner of Mine Labor Protection Campaign met the collector today.

Collector also informed that out of 18 families who will receive the aid, 2 mine labors succumbed to the disease and the relief amount will be given to their widows, while 16 people are undergoing treatment for asbestosis.

According to the sources, an Ahmedabad based social organization surveyed the affected areas around Udaipur and released the data of number of victims. However, the data was discarded by the government later saying that the survey should be done by government agencies only.

Later in June 2012, a team from RNT Medical College did the survey and gave the final report to the concerned department.