Mangaluru, Apr 27: Activists and families affected by Endosulfan pesticide, which has affected over 7,000 individuals in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada, staged a demonstration under the banner of Endosulfan Virodhi Horata Samiti in front of the deputy commissioner’s office here on Monday, demanding payment of pending monthly stipends and free bus pass facility from the state government.
Protesting against the unfulfilled promises made by the state government in addressing their issues, the Endosulfan victims and activists blamed the government for alleged inaction in providing them with healthcare and other necessary facilities.
Led by Endosulfan victim and president of the Samithi Sridhar Gowda, the demonstators demanded that the pending stipends should be reimbursed to the eligible victims without any further delay, and henceforth ensure that the stipends were credited to the victims in the first week of each month.
They also demanded nutritious food to be provided regularly to the victims, along with providing free bus passes to kin of bedridden victims who were unable to move on their own. Proper healthcare facilities, including monthly check-up by appointed doctors and mobile treatment facilities should be provided to the Endosulfan victims.
The victims also demanded that the state government should provide a permanent compensation of Rs 5 lakh to each victim suffering from mental or physical deformities, along with providing mobile health centres for the treatment of the victims.
Among the other demands were appointing a staff nurse in each village where there were bedridden Endosulfan victims, a permanent rehabilitation centre in each taluk, monthly health camp at the district government hospital and Rs 5 lakh as permanent compensation to families of those who died due to being affected by Endosulfan spray in cashew nut plantations in the three districts.
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