Permanent rehabilitation centre for endosulfan victims yet to take off

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 18,2017: The permanent rehabilitation centre for endosulfan victims in Dakshina Kannada is yet to take off, as the State government hasn’t still acted on a report sent by the district administration.

The need for such a centre, which has been a long-pending demand, is all the more for those who are mentally challenged and bedridden.

The call grew louder after the suicide by four members of a family, including a 32-year-old endosulfan victim, in Aaladka village in Belthangady taluk on January 5.

When the Endo Virodhi Horata Samiti staged a protest in Kokkada village in Belthangady taluk in May last week, they put forth the demand for the centre prominently.

The other demands included adoption of the Kerala model of rehabilitation package and increasing the monthly stipend of the victim from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.

It was in July last year that the Dakshina Kannada district administration sent to the government a detailed project report on setting up a permanent rehabilitation centre on a five-acre land in Alankar village in Puttur taluk.

As per the DPR, it was proposed to have a 110-bed centre costing Rs. 11.3 crore (excluding cost for human resource).

On July 4, Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar held a meeting with officials from departments of Health, Finance and Women and Child Welfare in Bengaluru.

The proposal of setting up of a permanent rehabilitation centre was among the subjects that were discussed. District officials said they are yet to receive directions from the Health Department to turn the proposal a reality.

President of Endo Virodhi Horata Samiti Sridhar Gowda said parents of bedridden victims are a harried lot with the absence of permanent facility for care of their children.

The suicide of the endosulfan victim along with family members was an indication of the frustration of parents. “I earnestly request the State government to resolve problems and set up the Centre at the earliest,” he said.

Courtesy: The Hindu