The Endosulfan Peeditha Janakeeya Munnani has accused the State government of trying to subvert the endosulfan victims’ rehabilitation package proposed by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

In a statement here on Sunday, the organisation alleged that the government was distorting NHRC’s recommendations thereby denying assistance to most of the victims and their families.

The re-categorised list of endosulfan victims in 11 panchayats of the district has shattered the hopes of many patients, who were under the impression that the government’s decision to pay the compensation recommended by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) would end their woes to some extent. The rehabilitation package, though not a rightful compensation for many who cannot even get out of their beds, could have been a relief.

Janu Naik, 64, who committed suicide by consuming poison at his residence in Bellur on Monday, was one among them. According to health officials who knew Janu Naik, he was very disappointed to know that his name was not included in the fresh list.

Maintaining that the Kerala government was determined to “dilute the spirit” of the relief and rehabilitation packages suggested by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the ‘Endosulfan Janakeeya Peeditha Munnani’ has urged the Commission to ask the administration to fully execute its recommendation to help the deserving victims of the “killer” pesticide spraying in the district.

In a letter dated August 20 to the Chairman of the NHRC, Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan, Convener of the Front, which had been spearheading indefinite relay hunger strike by mothers of endosulfan victims in the district since April 20,

Alleging that the State government is “diluting the spirit” of the relief and rehabilitation packages suggested by the National Human Rights Commission for endosulfan victims, the Endosulfan Janake

Issues of endosulfan victims

Social Welfare Minister M.K. Muneer has said the government has an open mind to address the issues raised by the mothers of endosulfan victims. Dr. Muneer was replying to queries of mediapersons on the demands raised by the mothers of endosulfan victims, whose indefinite relay hunger strike is nearing four months.

Kerala govt's ban on endosulfan prevails. State pays monthly pension of Rs 2,000 to those who are bedridden & Rs 1,000 to those with ailments, disability

I want to tell you today a true story of extraordinary courage, not of one, but of many. This past fortnight I was in Kasargod, a district in Kerala, splendid in beauty and natural resources, but destroyed by one toxic chemical: endosulfan. The pesticide was aerially sprayed over cashew plantations for 20 years, in complete disregard for the fact that there is no demarcation between where plantations end and habitation begins.

The Centre has sought the Supreme Court’s permission to use the available stock of the banned pesticide endosulfan for agricultural purpose on the ground that incinerating it will cost the exchequer Rs. 210 crore.

“The cost of disposal of the live stock of endosulfan by incineration shall be more than Rs. 210.82 crore, whereas phasing out will not only result in saving this huge amount on disposal but will also save the product (stock) worth Rs. 31.36 lakh, which will contribute to increased crop production,” the Agriculture Ministry told the court in an affidavit.

Says Burning Of Stock Will Cost 210cr.

Central government’s affidavit before Supreme Court on endosulfan

Environmentalists in Kerala’s Idukki district see a grand design in the Central government’s affidavit before the Supreme Court that seeks to allow the sale of endosulfan in the country except in Kerala and Karnataka. The ban in Kerala, they aver, will not be effective if the pesticide is freely available in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. They point out that in the border district of Idukki, where cardamom is grown in large scales, highly toxic (red-labelled) pesticides are widely used even after their ban.