ENDOSULFAN VICTIMS, MOTHERS AGITATION

ENDOSULFAN

VICTIMS, MOTHERS AGITATION

As the indefinite relay strike by the mothers of the endosulfan victims entered the 52nd day on Sunday, the Endosulfan Satyagraha Samithi, that is spearheading the stir, is exploring options of intensifying their protest by resorting to hunger strike from June 16. A decision to this effect was taken on Saturday at a meeting of the office bearers of the Samithi, which had earlier decided to begin strike from June 11 as part of intensifying the agitation, seeking effective implementation of the assured rehabilitation packages to hundreds of victims reeling under host of issues, including provision of inadequate medical treatment. The decision to defer the strike was made in view of the proposed meeting the District Collector had called on June 11 at the Collector’s chamber here. Another meeting had been planned with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram on June 12 to ensure speedy implementation of the assured relief and rehabilitation package, Samithi Convener Ambalathara KunhiKrishnan told the Hindu. The indefinite relay strike close to the district collectorate premises at Vidyanagar locality here had begun on April 20.

The major demand raised by the victims’ mothers was effective treatment for the hundreds of victims residing in the 11 affected panchayats. They were afflicted with mysterious diseases with little hope for an immediate and lasting recovery. The Samithi also demanded waiving the loans of the victims’ families, setting up of a tribunal to decide on the compensation amount to deserving victims after assessing their health conditions and speedy implementation of other assured relief and rehabilitation packages. Mr. Kunhikrishnan, hailing the government’s decision to implement the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission, which had suggested disbursing Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of victims who had died and Rs. 3 lakh each to bed-ridden victims of prolonged aerial spraying of deadly pesticide in the Plantation Corporation of Kerala’s cashew estates in the district. “There had been apprehension and ambiguity over the manner and the time span during which the said relief would be disbursed. The government should make categorical assurances to the aggrieved families on the implementation of the effective relief package, he said. 

Prof. John Kurakar