ENDOSULFAN- OFFICIAL CONFERENCE

ENDOSULFAN- OFFICIAL CONFERENCE


Chief Minister will convene a conference of officials on November 18 to review measures undertaken by the government for victims of Endosulfan in Kasaragod district.

The conference will review the effectiveness of assistance provided by government to the victims. Besides welfare pensions for the disabled, the government is providing monthly assistance for bystanders of bed-ridden victims,rice at Rs 2 a kg and medical assistance. The meet may also look in to the possibility of obtaining compensation for victims through the establishment of a tribunal.

The government is currently providing a solatium of Rs 50000/- to the relative of the dead. It has, how ever,provided Rs 5 lakh each to the victims of recent liquor tragedy in Malappuram district.The case of Endosulfan victims is considered a bigger tragedy. For this,it is assessing the Endosulfan residues still present in soil,sediments and human blood and the state of biodiversity.

Congress leader V.M Sudheeran wrote to the Prime Minister on Tuesday 11th November,2010 urging the central government to ban the manufacture,sale and use of Endosulfan. Besides announcing special package for the victims of the pesticide in Kasaragod under a joint programme of the centre and state government.

Mr Sudheeran wanted the government to include provisions in the pesticides management Bill,2008 to empower state governments to ban pesticides un suitable in their respective areas.

He suggested the establishment of a permanent tribunal with the authority to decide on claims of compensation and rehabilitation of victims of pesticide contamination under the proposed Bill, which was now before parliament.



Prof. John Kurakar