A conference convened by the Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan here on Friday, to discuss the relief and rehabilitation of the endosulfan victims decided to set up a special ward at the Kasaragode General Hospital and operate mobile vans for reaching medical assistance to the victims.
Briefing the media the Chief Minister said that the mobile vans would have Allopathic and Ayurveda doctors to extend suitable treatment to the victims.
Chief Minister announced that sufficient budget provisions would be made for relief and remediation of the victims. Besides, funds would be raised for relief and remediation by district and grama panchayats, social welfare department and non governmental organisations.
Mr. Achuthanandan said that of 1996 victims identified by the health department 103 were severe case. A family member who is caring such a patient with a severe handicap would be provided with monthly assistance of Rs.250/- under a scheme of the Social Welfare Department. This would be in addition to the pension for the disabled at Rs.250/- a month. Surgeries would be continued to be done at the Pariyaram medical college for victims requiring surgical intervention.
The Science and technology and health departments would jointly conduct a study on the effects of endosulfan and the condition of the victims.
The Chief Minister took strong exception to the statement of the Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar against ban on endosulfan. The union minister had made the statement without making any studies. Endosulfan had contaminated the soil and water resources in the district and Mr. Pawar who is the minister for the entire nation shouldn’t have ignored that. He added that ban on the use of endosulfan would continue in Kerala.
