By IANS,
New Delhi : The Uttar Pradesh government has been asked to compensate the families of eight workers who died in an explosion inside a firecracker factory in the state’s Saharanpur district.
According to an official statement by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the explosion occurred in a cracker factory in Saharanpur Oct 18, 2004, because of negligence and left 11 workers killed and two other people injured.
The case was brought to the notice of the commission by an NGO for action against the guilty and compensation to the victims.
“The commission took up the matter and observed that the district magistrate as well as the commissioner appeared to have forgotten to protect the workers’ life under the relevant provisions of Factories Act, and gave no relief to their families, leaving them at the mercy of the employer,” an NHRC official said.
“Accordingly, a show cause notice was served and in response to this the state government’s reply revealed that dependents of only three out of the 11 deceased workmen received any compensation from the authorities. Therefore, the commission recommended that the Uttar Pradesh government pay Rs.300,000 each to those also who were not paid any monetary relief,” the official added.
“The commission has sought a compliance report along with proof of payment from the chief secretary of the state within six weeks after the receipt of its recommendations. The recommendations were sent Jan 5,” the official added.