Despite the National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) recommendation to the State in December, 2010 to provide compensation to endosulfan victims, over 3,000 persons who are in the official list have not received any payment so far.
Of the 5,848 victims who found place in the official list, only 2,820 victims were given part of the assistance recommended by the NHRC, which on December 31, 2010 had mandated the State to pay the stipulated compensation amount to varying categories of victims within a span of eight weeks.
The NHRC had recommended ₹5 lakh compensation each to the kin of the deceased victims, totally bed-ridden and mentally deranged persons and ₹3 lakh each to other categories.
The Supreme Court, while disposing of a petition filed by the DYFI, in its January 10 verdict had asked the State to pay the third instalment of the compensation within three months. The State Cabinet, despite earmarking nearly ₹57 crore to pay the dues disbursed the sum to only 110 victims of the 4,182 persons as per the official list prepared in 2012. Efforts are under way to clear the dues. The funds have not reached the Collectorate perhaps owing to technical reasons, a senior official here said.
Endosulfan Peedhitha Janakeeya Munnani (EPJM) general convener Ambalathara Kunhikrishan told The Hindu here on Monday that the inability on the part of the State to disburse the assured sum by April 10 should be seen as an instance of contempt of court.
Mr. Kunhikrishnan said the EPJM, as part of evolving future strategies, will host a convention here on May 13 when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will visit Kanhangad to take part in the first district-level title deed distribution in the State ahead of the LDF completing its one-year term in power.
He said the fresh endosulfan list had 5,848 victims.
