The State government has failed to reach an agreement with representatives of endosulfan victims from Kasaragod who have been on a sit-in in front of the Secretariat here since Wednesday.
Health Minister K.K. Shylaja and Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan held a closed-door meeting with them on Thursday. The State’s decision to whittle down the list of persons purportedly eligible for compensation to a more “manageable number” proved to be the sole stumbling block to an amicable settlement, officials said.
Later, the Minister requested the representatives of the Endosulfan Peeditha Janakiya Munnani to call off the agitation. She said the government would address their grievances and extend compensation to the genuinely affected. She also promised to write off mortgages up to ₹3 lakh incurred by the families.
Earlier, the Assembly witnessed a walkout by the Opposition after the Speaker denied leave for an adjournment motion. A ₹68-crore rehabilitation village for those affected would be set up at Mooliyar village in Kasaragod, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly. The Centre was yet to provide the ₹483 crore sought by the State since 2012. The government had included 287 persons in the affected list after a medical camp. Another 87 persons were added after a review.