The Hindu : Kerala News : Focus now on compensation for victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 10, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Focus now on compensation for victims

By K.P. Pushparaj

KASARAGOD, DEC. 9. The decision of the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to ban the use of Endosulfan in the State has been welcomed by individuals and organisations that have been up in arms against the use of the pesticide in the plantation areas of Kasaragod for years together.

Responding to the demand of the Endosulfan Virudha Samiti for compensation and rehabilitation of the victims of the pesticide, the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, during his recent visit to the district, had sought a comprehensive report on the issue from the District Collector. The Chief Minister had announced that he would begin his new programme of visiting sensitive and problem areas with the Endosulfan-affected areas in the district.

``The Chief Minister will visit the areas on December 23. We will submit our report soon after holding a meeting on Monday. The Central Government also has convened a meeting to discuss the issue on December 13 and 14,'' the Collector, Minaj Alam, said.

``The people are anxiously awaiting a possible compensation package for the Endosulfan-affected during his visit,'' an activist of the samiti said.

The aerial spraying of the pesticide by the Plantation Corporation, Kerala (PCK), in its cashew plantations at Padre, Swarga, Periya, Vani Nagar and other places was reported to have caused serious illness including skin diseases among the people living around the estates. The people had complained of health problems such as cerebral palsy, mental and physical retardation and congenital abnormalities. Though the PCK had, in principle, imposed a ban on the aerial spraying of the pesticide in its plantations more than a year ago, the people of Kasaragod had been demanding a total ban on it.

Panel reports

The people were not happy with the Central Government when it gave a `clean chit' to the pesticide last year. Also, they alleged clandestine use of the pesticide by individual planters.

Some of the victims even moved the High Court seeking compensation. The latest edition of the agitation was a fast staged by the samiti which was later withdrawn following an assurance by the Chief Minister.

The A. Achuthan Committee which went into the issue had recommended (in November 2001) a ban on aerial spraying of all types of pesticides in the cashew plantations of Kasaragod district. But the O.P. Dubey Committee appointed by the Central Government last year recommended its use within the limits prescribed by the Insecticides Act, 1968

The PCK also initiated a study, but the villagers of Padre and other areas refused to cooperate with the officials of the Fredrick Institute of Plant Protection and Toxicology at Kancheepuram, commissioned by the PCK.

Of late, human rights activists have been demanding compensation and proper rehabilitation for the victims of Endosulfan. Having assured of a no-entry to the dreaded pesticide, the people's forums should now be focussing on obtaining compensation and seeking rehabilitation for the affected persons.

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