Following assurances from two legislators and Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha, endosulfan victims and their family members on Sunday deferred their plan to continue with an indefinite hunger strike.
President of Endo Virodhi Horata Samiti Sridhar Gowda and other victims and their family members carried out a protest in Kokkada village in Beltangady taluk on Saturday demanding, among others, setting up of permanent rehabilitation centre. On Sunday they started a indefinite hunger strike.
Vasant Bangera, MLA, and Ganesh Karnik, MLC, met the victims and assured them of raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
Earlier, Mr. Jagadeesha met the victims and said a meeting of all officers of the district will be held on June 14 to discuss issues, namely irregular payment of monthly stipend and identification of endosulfan victims.
Demands to increase monthly stipend to ₹5,000, granting pension of ₹2,000 for parents of endosulfan victims and grant of 50 kg of ration will be sent to the State government, Mr. Jagadeesha reportedly told the protestors.