From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 6: A comprehensive package for people suffering from disabilities and other diseases in endosulfan-affected areas of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts is under consideration of the State Government.

As many as 1907 people in Dakishina Kannada and 1703 people in Udupi districts have been identified as suffering from various diseases in endosulfan-dominated areas of the two districts according to the State Government.

This information was in a reply to a question of L A Ravisubramanya of the BJP during the question hour in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Aravind Limbavali said a survey to identify victims has been completed in two districts.

A total of 383 people with various disabilities have been identified in three villages of Uttara Kannada district so far.

The minister said the primary health centre located at Kokkada in Belthangady taluk has been upgraded as community health centre with 30-bed capacity for the benefit of the victims in the area.

The Minister said the State Government was considering of providing the comprehensive package to the people suffering from various diseases in endosulfan dominated areas.

“The package will be better than the one provided in Kerala,” he said.

However, he did not offer any details on the quantum or other salient features of the package.

After completion of the survey in Uttara Kannada district, the state government would submit the survey report to the Supreme Court to ban spraying of endosulfan in the State, he said.

Ravisubramanya urged the state government to pay monthly allowances of Rs 3,000 per person with disabilities.

Apart from taking preventive measures, the state government has to open more rehabilitation centres in the three districts, the BJP member said.

In a reply to B C Patil of the Congress, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Visveshvara Hegde Kageri said the Centre has not released sanctioned funds to the state under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as well as under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1350 crore in 2012-13 under the RMSA but released only Rs 160 crore while under the SSA, the Centre sanctioned Rs 2064 crore but released Rs 400 crore in the year. The situation was similar in other states as well, Kageri said.