Victims of endosulfan spraying in the district will take out a Collectorate march here on Nagasaki Day, on Wednesday, against the ‘lax approach of the authorities to their demands.’
“The authorities are yet to disburse in full the financial package recommended by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for the victims. The panel had visited the area in December 2010,” Endosulfan Peeditha Janakeeya Munnani (EPJM) president Muneesa Ambalathara told a press meet on Monday.
While the NHRC recommended financial aid ranging between ₹3 lakh and ₹5 lakh to varying categories of victims, whose number has been put at 5,848, the authorities have so far paid partial compensation only to 2,820, Ms. Muneesa, an endosulfan victim afflicted with vision impairment from birth, said.
The authorities have also failed to implement the Supreme Court ruling on January 10 that the NHRC-recommended assistance be paid in toto within the stipulated three-month time frame. As many as 610 persons on the official victims’ list had not received any assistance, including pension, EPJM secretary Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan said.
The EPJM also demanded that a tribunal be set up to decide on the quantum of compensation to varying categories of victims and destruction of the deadly pesticide stock at the Plantation Corporation of Kerala’s warehouse at Nenjamparamba.
Besides, the EPJM sought inclusion of ration cards of the victims’ families on the BPL list and waiver of loans taken for medical treatment, among others. The EPJM expressed concern over the delay in publishing the fresh list of victims who had attended the five-day medical camps held here in April.
Hunger strike plan
“The lax approach cannot be tolerated any more. The victims’ mothers will launch a hunger strike in front of the Secretariat from Republic Day,” Mr. Kunhikrishnan said.
On Wednesday, the march will commence in front of the Kasaragod Government College at 9.30 a.m. and will culminate on the Collectorate premises.