Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)
Mangalore, Dec 14: The AICC members under the leadership of PV Mohan along with several other associations staged a hunger protest demanding compensation package for endosulfan victims, here in front of DC office on Wednesday December 12.
The protest began with lighting of lamp by J R Lobo, former commissioner, Dr Ismail, principal of Badriya College, professor Vishwanath and others.
Addressing the gathering, JR Lobo said that the protest is organized to share the pain of endosulfan victims who suffer day and night.
“Government should think about providing relief package to the victims. They should have thought well before using the deadly pesticide. The government should also frame a policy against the use of pesticide and most importantly it should be implemented efficiently and quickly, through which we can prevent further such use of pesticides hazardous to human beings”, said J R Lobo.
Speaking about the victims, he said the government should have provided a decent compensatory package to them along with facility of rehabilitation center. He wished the effort undertaken by P V Mohan to be fruitful.
Professor Vishwanath said the deadly pesticide endosulfan has brought pain to several families. We can term it as a deadly tragedy after the Hiroshima-Nagasaki nuclear bomb and Bhopal gas tragedy, he said.
“We feel sad that the government has not taken any action in the interest of the victims. The survey which was conducted is also incomplete as several places were left over. This shows carelessness over the matter. Hence we request both central and state government to conduct the entire survey again and soon provide relief package to them”, he added.
Dr Isamil in his address said that the protest is held to discuss a serious issue. “I do not understand why people make use of fertilizers who do not think well in hand about its bad impact. This should be stopped as it has a bad impact on the environment and human beings. We are here to fight in terms of humanity and not under a banner or a party”, he said and urged the government to take suitable measures.
Former MLA of Puttur Shakunthala D Shetty also spoke on the occasion.
Later, Oscar Fernandes and Yeddyurappa too joined the protest.
P V Mohan, AICC member, Denis D’Silva, Ibrahim Kodijal, Nyzil Pereira, TK Sudheer, Krupa Alva, Muneer Katipalla among others were present.