Beltangady: Endosulfan Victims to get Rs 50 Lac Compensation from State Govt
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (RD/SP)
Beltangady, Jul 30: State Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced that a sum of Rs 50 lac would be released towards disbursement of compensation to the victims of the after-affects of endosulfan use in the taluk.
As reported in a detailed report that appeared in daijiworld.com on Jul 14, 2009, the deadly chemical, used between the year 1980 and 2000 in plantations of coastal Karnataka as an effective insecticide-cum-acaricide, has left sordid tales of its strong after-effects in places wherever it was used.
CM Yeddyurappa and panchayat raj and rural development minister Shobha Karandlaje gave this assurance to the delegation of victims, led by Sridhar Gowda and taluk BJP president Kushalappa Gowda, who represented Upparavalike Samyukta Sangh that has been pursuing struggle for the monetary relief. The delegation met them at the state capital, on Monday July 27.
The delegation explained to the CM, that residents of Kokkada village near here, were affected by the spraying of the above deadly chemical on cashew plantations, that had been regularly done to regulate the pests. Several people were affected; nearly 100 were affected by cancer while 10 – 45 people have died owing to the after-affects of endosulfan on the cashew plantations located in their neighbourhood. As a result, many babies were born with physical and mental deformities, the delegation said.
In response to the plea of endosulfan victims, CM Yeddyurappa announced that those who have suffered over 60% disability, both physical and mental, because of endosulfan use, would be compensated.
The health department officials are likely to arrive at Kokkada, to identify the victims.
Nothing has been as yet decided about compensating people with less than 60% disability. Although during CM Yeddyurappa’s earlier term as the deputy CM in the coalition government, an assurance was made in this connection, the department of horticulture evaded the responsibility devolved to it. As Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation has since been brought under the purview of the forest department, the responsibility of paying compensation lies with the forest department, informed Sridhar Gowda, who led the delegation of endosulfan victims along with Kushalappa Gowda.
Earlier Report: