The State government should implement the proposed comprehensive rehabilitation package for endosulfan victims in a time-bound manner, environmental activist Medha Patkar has said.
She was addressing a public meeting organised by the Anti-Endosulfan Campaign Committee, after a march to the Collectorate, here on Tuesday.
“Despite a sustained campaign against the pesticide, both the Central and State governments are on adopting a lackadaisical approach in implementing the rehabilitation package,” she said.
The police blocked the march at B.C. Road. The agitators squatted on the road and held the public meeting there at Number 17, Vidyanagar locality.
Various panels had recommended the implementation of the package. The National Human Rights Commission had recommended an aid of Rs.5 lakh each to the victims. It had also recommended the setting up of a tribunal to decide on the actual compensation amount, she said.
The State governments should set up a medical college hospital in the district to cater to the needs of those plagued by health hazards, Ms. Patkar said adding that it was startling that the Prime Minister had not visited the place.
P. Karunakaran, MP, said the Centre was keen on safeguarding the interests of corporate business houses.
Anti-Endosulfan Campaign Committee chairman K.B. Mohammed Kunhi presided over the function. Y.S. Mohan Kumar, physician and anti-endosulfan campaigner; and writer Ambika Suthan Mangad expressed concern over the State government's ‘move to give a clean chit to the Plantation Corporation.'
