Kerala: State Finally Agrees To The Demands Of Striking Mothers Of Endosulfan Victims

Five days after an indefinite fast, mothers of the endosulfan-affected children ended their agitation after the Kerala government agreed to include more victims in the list of those eligible for compensation and rehabilitation, reports The Week.

"Those who were below 18 years of age in the 2017 Biological Plausible list of 1,095 people will be included in the rehabilitation package. Kasaragod district collector will coordinate the process," M V Jayarajan, private secretary to the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was quoted as saying by The Week.

“The government accepted all our demands,” Muneesa, a victim and an active participant in the protest, said.

Earlier, the talks with Kerala Revenue Minister, E Chandrasekharan, and Health and Social Justice Minister, K K Shailaja, had failed and the mothers of the endosulfan victims in the state were set to intensify their protest for several demands, reported The New Indian Express.

According to the report, the members of ‘Endosulfan Peeditha Janakeeya Munnani’ (EPJM) would stage a march to the Chief Minister’s official residence on 3 February.

Earlier, a protest by 25 mothers including a fast by Dayabai had begun on 30 January in front of the State secretariat.

Muneesa Ambalathara, the EPJM president, had reportedly said that the government was adamant about retaining the existing guidelines.

“Only 287 people are beneficiaries of the medical and financial assistance as per the list of the state government. The government failed to recognise the fact that 1,905 people were affected by the pesticide. Many ineligible people have managed to enter the list whereas the eligible people were neglected. When asked to produce the government guidelines, they said the copy of guidelines was at the Collectorate,” Muneesa was quoted as saying by TNIE.

The Supreme Court, in January 2017, had directed the government to provide compensation for the victims within three months and take measures to rehabilitate them. The court had also awarded a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those who had died.