A Journey through 20 Years of Occupational Health and Safety in India

Since 1992, the Peoples Training and Research Centre (PTRC) in Vadodara—founded by the author and his mentor Vijay Kanhere—has been a critical resource and key actor in the struggle to improve working conditions in India. Much of the PTRC's work has focused on occupational lung disease, particularly silicosis among agate craft workers. PTRC has brought medical services to workers, pressured industry sectors and associations to mitigate exposures (e.g., through ventilation), and been instrumental in legal action to bring financial recompense to victims. Faced with the reality that true prevention is in the hands of employers, PTRC's strategy has been to engage with and empower workers by educating them about hazards, safety practices, and their legal rights.