6 persons on fast-unto-death faint in Rajasthan

Six persons, out of 13 who were on fast-unto-death demanding compensation for silicosis victims, today were admitted to hospital after they fainted.

"Over 50 persons, mostly women, have been sitting on dharna for last 6 days but no body from the administration bothered to approach them," said Ran Sengupta, managing trustee of Mine Labour Protection Campaign.

Dismayed by this apathy, these protesters decided to start "hunger strike" from today itself and 13 of them deserted the food at the district collectorate.

But six of them, five women and a man, could not survive the hunger and fainted in the evening.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has fixed a compensation of Rs 3 lakh in the case of the silicosis victims of Rajasthan and has directed the state government to issue this compensation to the next of the kins of those who have died of this disease.

But as of today, no compensation has been provided to them, Sengupta alleged.