Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jul 17: Bharatiya Kisan Sangha, Udupi unit on Thursday July 16 organized a press meet at its office near Taluk Panchayat, regarding the plight of the endosulfan victims in the district.
Sathyanarayan Udupa, district chief secretary addressing the media persons said that nearly 2,156 endosulfan victims have been reported from 76 villages in the district as per the investigation of 2012 writ petition. After the High Court order 1, 317 endosulfan victims were reported from 88 villages in the district. The High Court instructed the state government to provide monthly allowance from the first week of March 2014 depending upon their eligibility. However, many victims have not received the required compensation so far.
Regarding the endosulfan victims’ Shreyoabhivrudhi Foundation the High court ordered the state government to submit an accurate survey report on the three districts. The court ordered the state government to provide compensation and door-to-door treatment to the victims.
As per the High Court verdict, the state government has to finish off the survey by the end of February 2015, but the district authority has left out 178 victims in 6 villages, because of the confusion regarding the region these victims come under.
As per the study the endosulfan spray was used in 74 villages in the district, out of which 14 villages reported only victims. 62 villages are now pending for health check up to be conducted. There are victims found in 6 villages in Karkal in addition to the 74 villages mentioned.
Out of a total of 1,317 children 210 are below ten years and 80 children upto 5 years of age.
Udupa informed that no precautions have been taken by the district health authority in prohibiting the birth of a disabled child. Out of 1, 317 identified victims more than 300 people do not receive monthly pension. Many people are refused government privileges due to disparity in the age bracket.
The department has spent Rs 3, 08, 86, 785 pension against Rs. 3, 03, 38, 100 in 13 months. The excess amount of money of Rs 5, 48, 685 was spent in vain. Many families opined that they have not yet received a single paisa of compensation. Eight people have received pension in their account twice. 4 cases have been included in the endosulfan victims list though they have not been affected.
The Bharatiya Kisan Sangha members demanded compensation to be provided to the endosulfan victims and other previleges ordered by the High Court.
BKS members demanded a clarification to the problems which have not been clarified by the state government.
The very first committee will approach the district legal service authority. If not, they will go on a major protest in association with endosulfan victims' Shreyoabhivrudhi Foundation with the leadership of Raveendranath Shanbhag.
BKS district president B V Poojary, treasurer Vasudev Shyanbhag, vice president Shankar Narayan Karant, Srinivas Bhat and other taluk representatives were present at the meeting.