Endosulfan victims to write to CM Bommai for benefits

Mangaluru: An Endosulphan victims’ forum called Endo Virodhi Horata Samithi in Kokkada will launch a letter campaign to draw the attention of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to the difficulties and challenges faced by the endosulfan victims.
A meeting of endosulfan victims and their family members was organised at the Sangama Kripa Sabha Bhavana in Uppinangady on Sunday. On the sidelines of this meeting, Shridhar Gowda K, president of the Samithi told TOI that the letter campaign will be launched from September 20 to 30.
Some of the major demands the campaign will highlight include monthly pension to victims of Rs 10,000, more benefits to blue smart card holders and distrubution of nutritious food and Unique Disability ID (UDID) card to all endosulfan victims. According to the forum, there are several victims who are struggling to get the smart card. Gowda also urged the government to sign a memorandum of understanding with all private hospitals in Puttur to ensure free hospital treatment for all endosulfan victims.
“I will be writing to the chief minister this week, informing that the endosulfan victims will be launching a letter campaign and will also bring to his notice our demands and concerns. In case the CM fails to respond to our demand, even after the launch of the letter campaign, we have decided to organise a padayatra from Kokkada to Bengaluru on October 2,” Gowda said.
The forum expects to send about 10,000 letters from the victims to the chief minister Bommai. Meanwhile, the parents of the endosulfan victims raised several other issues as well. Many complained that officials were not responding to their problems and expressed dissatisfaction over the physiotherapy services that are provided through mobile health units for bedridden victims. “We will bring all these issues to the notice of the district officials,” said Gowda.