Beltangady: CM Awards Monetary Compensation to Endosulfan Victims
News & Pics: Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (RD/SB)

Beltangady, Feb 28: “This is the golden moment of democracy at work.” The words of Dharmastala Dharmadikari Dr D Veerendra Heggade have indeed been literally proven. Former state minister Shobha Karandlaje took earnest interest in pursuing the decade-long struggle of endosulfan victims. Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has responded to the grievances of endosulfan victims by visiting Kokkada near here on Sunday February 28, in order to award monetary compensation of Rs 50,000 to each victims of endosulfan of Beltangady and Puttur taluks and thus bring hope into their lives.

CM Yeddyurappa visited Kokkada, Patrame, Nidle and surrounding villages, whose residents were devastated by the spraying of deadly endosulfan on cashew plantations. CM Yeddyurappa distributed monetary compensation and also disability benefits to the victims of endosulfan.

Addressing the gathering, CM Yeddyurappa said that the state administration is committed to award justice to endosulfan victims, who were affected when Cashew Board sprayed endosulfan disinfectant on the cashew plantations. The state has decided to respond to the side-effects of physical disability, mental retardedness, cancer and other health complications. The monetary compensation has been awarded to all victims, without taking into account the annual income of affected families, purely on humanitarian grounds, he said.

“A top-level committee was appointed by the state administration to study the issue and present report during 2004. The report has been submitted to the state, explaining the causes and plight of endosulfan victims, which was not followed through by the erstwhile governments. “:If Dr D Veerendra Heggade comes forward to shoulder the responsibility of setting up rehabilitation centres for the endosulfan victims, I will approve Rs 25 lac within a week. The experts will be consulted on the sustenance of cashew plantation, in order to take bold stance in co-ordination with state and union government,” he added.

Dr D Veerendra Heggade announced that he is ready to set up a rehabilitation centres for the endosulfan victims as proposed by CM Yeddyurappa. He also said that the cancer patients will be treated free by the Sri Kshetra Dharmastala. He also commended the effort of Shobha Karandlaje in pursuing the cause of endosufan victims.  

He urged the state to support organic farming and the people to take interest in organic farming.  The acquiring of fertile farmlands, worship centres should be spared and de-notification should be issued by the state administration, he urged.

MLA Shobha Karandlaje in her introductory address said that both state and union government should take a firm stance at the interest of a large number of poor peasants without heeding to the pressures of chemical fertilizers and disinfectant companies. The research should be made by scientists on the advantages and disadvantages of any chemical fertilizer and disinfectant.  The nation should not become a dumping yard for the chemical fertilizer and disinfectant which are banned in developed countries. Meanwhile, she urged the state administration to help the endosulfan victims to improve their health.

A total of 211 families from three each villages in Beltangady and Puttur taluks are the beneficiaries. CM also distributed disability pension sanction letters to 231 persons. While 103 of them received a pension of Rs 400 a month, the rest will get Rs 1,000 each.

On the occasion, CM also laid foundation stone for various projects under the zilla panchayat.

Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister Krishna Palemar, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Coastal Development Authority chairman Nagaraj Shetty, DK zilla panchayat president Santhosh Kumar Bhandary, former MLA Prabhakar Bangera, deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj and BJP district president Padmanabha Kottari among others were present.

Power Problem to be Taken Care of

Earlier speaking to presspersons, CM said that earnest efforts will be made to meet the increasing power needs in the state. As assembly session is on I cannot comment much on the issue. As there is shortage of power in the state, 800 mw power would be purchased from Monday March 1. So far 400 mw of power has already been purchased and the additional purchase will be made from Monday. 

When CM’s attention was drawn to the pending money payable to the co-operatives by the government with respect of farm loan waiver, CM assured that as a precedent the state government will soon pay all the co-operative banks their money with interest.