Mangalore, November 15: Although a report based on the survey on endosulfan victims in Dakshina Kannada was submitted to Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad a week ago during the proceedings of National Health Advisory Committee meeting in New Delhi, a proper proposal was required from the State Government to release compensation to the victims, said P V Mohan, Chief Trustee of Social Action Group for Empowerment (SAGE) and member of AICC.
Speaking at a press conference here on Thursday, he urged the State government to immediately forward a proposal to the Centre. The Central government has intimated that it was aware of the difficulties and problems faced by the endosulfan victims. Therefore, if a proposal is submitted by the state government to the Ministry at the earliest, then the relief package may be expected, he said.
Following AICC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes's request to Finance Minister P Chidambaram, an interim relief of Rs 1 lakh has been assured for each affected family in the region. To express our solidarity with the victims, symbolically, it has been decided that party members will observe a fast for an entire day during the proceedings of State Legislative Assembly. The date will be intimated later, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, President of Alankar Endosulfan Virodhi Horatha Samithi Peer Mohammed said that although close to 5,521 families in regions of Belthangady, Bantwal, Sullia and Puttur had been surveyed, it was not done scientifically. Only those victims who are physically-challenged have been surveyed, while there are even those victims suffering from cancer and cerebral palsy as a result of Endosulfan pesticide, and those who have married and moved away from the district. These victims should also be surveyed, and a medical inspection should be conducted on all the victims, he said.
The Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation (KCDC) had four regional branches in places like Moodbidri, Kumta and Kundapur in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttar Kannada where spraying was done. Surveys should be conducted in those regions, he said.
He said that the Centre had assured of relief package of Rs 5 lakh each for the victims of endosulfan akin to that provided by the Government of Kerala.
Belthangady Block Congress President Harish Kumar urged for the construction of a hospital in Belthangady offering free medical treatment and facilities to the victims.
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