After waiting for more than a decade, 15 families living in the neighbourhood of the Perambra Estate in Chakkittapara grama panchayat are still hoping for government aid for endosulfan victims. Some of their children have genetic disorders suspected to have been caused by the spraying of the pesticide in the cashew estate.
A scientific study is yet to be conducted into their health problems to prove that their physical condition is indeed caused by the pesticide. Though they are forced to spend a good sum on medical treatment, most of these people, who are former employees in the estate, are hesitant to come out in the open blaming the pesticide because of the stigma attached to endosulfan victims.
A.C. Pappachan, a former labourer at the estate, accused the gram panchayat authorities of trying to hush up the issue. “If the victims are to get compensation, the panchayat should first declare their support. They, however, do not want any stigma attached to the village. They claim that girls in the village will not get good bridegrooms. Some others were scared that it will affect the real-estate business too,” he said.
“Endosulfan was extensively used in the plantations. A former manager himself has admitted that around 72 litres of the pesticide was used during his tenure. Ammukkutty, a former employee, who used to mix it with water before spraying it, was in the intensive care unit of the medical college for 21 days in 2004, when she was still in service. She is bed-ridden even now,” Mr. Pappachan said. Sunil Kallungal, vice-president, Chakkittappara grama panchayat, however, said that some of their claims were hollow. “Some of them who are reportedly affected by the pesticide were born years after the spraying of the pesticide was stopped in the estate. There are people with mental retardation in all wards in the panchayat. There is no proof to say that people in only some particular areas had been affected by endosulfan,” he said. Mr. Sunil said that the panchayat would urge District Collector U.V. Jose to depute a medical team to study the issue.
Padmanabhan, president of the Paristhithi Souharda Samiti, a local environmental organisation, said that the condition of some of these people were pathetic. “They are getting only some financial help from local non-governmental organisations and trusts. They don’t have any platform in the form of an organisation to air their views either, like in Kasaragod,” he said. Asokan, who lives near the estate, said that there were some cancer patients too among the family members of the former labourers. “It is suspected that the pesticide sprayed on the trees must have mixed in the waters of the nearby Peruvannamoozhi dam too,” he said.
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission recently sought details from the Chief Secretary and the Secretaries for Health, Agriculture and Social Welfare Departments about those affected by the spraying of endosulfan in the estate. The commission registered the case suo motu based on media reports. The pesticide was sprayed in the estate till 2004.
