Commission accepts staggered relief payment proposed by State government

The Kerala government has partially complied with the orders of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on payment of compensation to families of those killed due to the effects of pesticide Endosulfan, and those who were physically affected.

The government, on Tuesday, issued orders approving the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission to pay compensation to the victims of endosulfan.

The action was taken in the backdrop of the commission asking Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar to be present in person before it if the government failed to act on the recommendations before June 4.

The district administration will hold awareness classes on the detoxification of huge quantities of endosulfan pesticide kept in godowns of the Plantation Corporation of Kerala.

The classes would be conducted by experts in Pullur-Periye, Kayyur-Cheemeni and Panathady panchayats on May 22 and May 24, official sources here said. The experts would strive to clear all apprehensions of the public regarding the detoxification programme, which was a long standing demand of the people of the affected localities, they said.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will help transfer endosulfan kept in vessels that have corroded by now in the warehouses of the Plantation Corporation of Kerala in the district to fresh barrels, officials said.

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by District Collector V.N. Jithendran here on Monday. Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan was present. The first step to destroy the deadly pesticide, the transfer, to be completed this month, is expected to set at rest a fear among the local people that the old vessels will spring leaks.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy reiterated here on Wednesday that the government would pay the compensation recommended by the National Human Rights Commission to the endosulfan victims in Kasaragod district.

Speaking to the media after a meeting of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister said that the Chief Secretary had been asked to examine all sides of the issue and submit a report for consideration of the Cabinet next week.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has summoned Kerala Chief Secretary to appear before it on June 11 along with the compliance report sought by the commission on its recommendations in the case of aerial spraying of hazardous pesticide endosulfan in Kasaragod district and its surrounding areas which resulted in health problems to people.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked Chief Secretary K. Jayakumar to appear personally before it on June 11, if the State government fails to take action on the compensation recommended for endosulfan victims in Kasaragod district.

The Chief Secretary should file an action-taken report on the commission's recommendations before June 4, failing which he will have to appear before it. The commission has warned that it will approach the Supreme Court for enforcement of its recommendations if the government fails to pay the compensation.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will disburse Rs.35 crore to implement 165 projects as the first-phase relief and rehabilitation package for victims of diseases caused by the aerial spraying of endosulfan.

Rs.117-crore outlay. The decision comes as part of the Rs.117-crore outlay earmarked to implement as many as 224 projects for which administrative sanctions have been received.

Endosulfan among toxins found in water samples

The water in most of the areas upstream of the Periyar such as Pathalam bund near the Edayar industrial site, the point where Chalakkal Thodu joins the Periyar, the riverside near FACT and near the Merchem Edayar discharge point contained dangerous chemicals such as endosulfan, according to a report filed before the Kerala High Court by the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram.

Woes galore at makeshift care centre for disabled

A day care centre for the disabled, especially the endosulfan victims, which was opened in Kokkada town of Belthangady taluk almost a year ago, urgently needs a permanent building. But there is little hope it would materialise any time soon.