Delay in Compensation: Endosulfan victims stage protest in Mangaluru

Delay in Compensation: Endosulfan victims stage protest in Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru: September 28, 2015: Victims affected by alleged endosulfan poisoning and activists held protest near deputy commissioner’s office demanding relief assured by the government on Monday.

 

As per the High Court directions, the victims with a disability of less than 60% are eligible to get a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500, of which Rs 1,000 is from the health department and the rest from the revenue department. Those with above 60% deformity are eligible to get Rs 3,000, of which Rs 1800 is borne by the health department. As per health department statistics, there are 3,618 victims till March 2015. Out of 3,618 victims, 201 are bed-ridden.

Members of Endo Virodhi Horatta Samiti, Kokkada and nearly 30 victims held a sit on demonstration to urge the government to fulfill their demands.

President of the Samiti, Sridhar Gowda said the High Court directions have been violated by not distributing compensation properly for the last four months. "Over 3,000 victims, who get stipend from health as well as revenue departments, have not received pension amount from the respective departments. The stipend from health department has been stopped four months ago and the contribution of revenue department stopped three months ago. Meanwhile, treatment and rehabilitation have become a mirage. Health department blame the directorate of social security and pensions for the delay," Gowda said during the protest.

"We demand the government to release stipend due for endosulfan victims immediately and adhere to the High Court’s directions. The stipend should be distributed through one department and thereby make it regular. All victims should be given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each," Gowda said.

On treatment and rehabilitation, Gowda said that the Primary Health Centre in Kokkada village has been upgraded as community health centre, but no efforts have been made to construction a block for it. "Officials say that the process of construction of block for the community health centre is on. We demand the authority to expedite the process. Though the health department has assured a mobile health unit for the victims, it has not been introduced yet. Specialists are not visiting victims, who are in bed-ridden condition. Hence, we urge the health department to send doctors and nurses to offer treatment to such patients regularly," he said and added that nutritional food supplement should be provided to victims.

He complained that the monthly medical check-up camps are being conducted through medical students. "Instead of specialists, only medical students are participating and medicines are not being supplied properly," he said and demanded that a dedicated website should be opened to provide information on compensation and other details.