Endosulfan agitation completes one month

KASARGOD: The indefinite fast being staged here by "Endosulfan-affected People's Front" seeking a comprehensive compensation package to persons with incurable diseases and deformities caused by the insecticide, completed one month today.

Peoples' Front activist A Mohan Kumar is observing the fast now after three others who staged the fast earlier were arrested and hospitalised by police.

Meanwhile, Front activists organised a 'human wall' in the city protesting against 'neglect' of the victims by the government.

Activists of various organisations, including BJP, DYFI, AIYF, Mahila Morcha, NGOs, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) participated in the human wall.

Hundreds of persons, who are victims of aerial spraying of endosulfan in cashew plantations in the district in the 1990s, have been struggling to get their demands for compensation met by the government since then.

"The government seemed to believe the serious social and health hazards caused by prolonged exposure to Endosulfan in the cashew estates of the Plantation Corporation of Kerala was over with the ban on pesticide in 2001," Front leaders said.

"Even now, children are being born in the area with deformities," they said.

The Front wants the government to withdraw the health department's order last year, stating that the rehabilitation scheme for victims would be completed in five years. They are also demanding that relief be provided on a long-term basis to victims.

They also demand proper implementation of the package announced by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2010 for endosulfan victims.