Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Sep 28: The endosulfan victims and various organizations held a protest on September 28 in front of D C office to condemn government harassment of endosulfan-affected people in the city.

Addressing the protestors, president of Endosulfan Virodhi Horata Samiti Kokkada, Sridhar Gowda said," The state government and the health department have been uttering only lies for the past two years. The high court has ordered the state government to provide monthly pension, proper medical check-up, medicine, a staff nurse for every rural area, bus pass etc for endosulfan victims of the state. Since the last 4 months we have not recieved monthly pension from the health department. The deputy commissioner says that he has sent a proposal to the state government, but as of now we have not got any answer. They conduct medical camps where student doctors come and they do not even have medicines to offer. No one heeds to our concerns. If they do not listen to the court order, why will they listen to blind, deaf or handicapped victims? The government has money to launch various programmes, schemes etc, but they do not have money to provide compensation. We are not asking for luxurious living, or politicising the issue. We are asking for the rights we are entitled to. We need to have basic needs for our survival. Only files are being transferred from table to table, but till now no relief for the victims has been given. When we protest, only a 2 months pension is paid and then we have got to protest again. How long will this continue? We will give the government 1 week's time to release a monthly pension and 1 month to implement government order. If it is not implemented, then we will lay siege on the assembly and protest during the winter session. When we ask the health department they say the revenue department will pay and the revenue department people say the pension department will pay but not a single rupee has come to us for 4 months."

Musir, president of Jamath al muslim hind said, "The health department has not paid the monthly compensation to the endosulfan victims for the past 4 months. They get students and conduct health camps. The court has clearly ordered the government to give a monthly pension but the government is not following any of its orders. The health department, district administration has no concern for these victims. The government undertakes various schemes but cannot pay a monthly pension to these victims. We entirely support the protest of these victims."

Naveen, president of Endosulfan Virodhi Horata Samiti Puttur, "Karnataka government has money to give rice at rupees but has no money to give monthly pension. What kind of bhagya is this. There was a demand for palana kendra in ujire, panaje, bellare and order had also come but this has not happened. Why is this is our question. I request the concious citizens of DK and Udupi to support the protest of endosulfan victims. When there are religious conventions lacks of people join together. Why not for this cause. Few people protesting will not do so i request you all to take part".