Finding the talks with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy “fruitful,” the Endosulfan Peeditha Janakeeya Munnani, a people’s front in support of the victims, has decided to suspend the 130-day indefinite relay hunger strike by the mothers of the victims.

Mr. Chandy, during the discussions with a delegation, led by P. Karunakaran, MP, and district panchayat president P.P. Shyamala Devi, in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, promised steps to meet the demands raised by the mothers for the rehabilitation of the victims and their families as suggested by the National Human Rights Commission, Ambikasudan Mangad, leader of the front, said at a press conference here on Monday.

All endosulfan victims will be given due compensation by the government, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.

According to a press note issued here on Sunday, the Chief Minister informed this to Kasaragod MP P. Karunakaran and Kasaragod district panchayat president P.P. Syamala Devi during a discussion he had with them. “What has been published now is a preliminary list of completely bed-ridden endosulfan victims.

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

The area around forests has had several human-animal conflicts

Solar fences will henceforth secure human settlements and farmlands in the three forest divisions of Wayanad from wild animal raids that have lead to several man-animal conflicts in recent years. Solar fences will be installed along a length of 300 km in the forest divisions of Wayanad North and South and the wildlife division, says K.J. Varghese, Managing Director, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC).

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.

Solar fences will henceforth secure human settlements and farmlands in the three forest divisions of Wayanad from wild animal raids that have lead to several man-animal conflicts in recent years.

Solar fences will be installed along a length of 300 km in the forest divisions of Wayanad North and South and the wildlife division, says K.J. Varghese, Managing Director, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC).

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.