Endosulfan victims begins hunger strike in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvanathapuram: Joint Action Council of Victims of Endosulfan began a hunger strike here on Tuesday to press for its demands.

Each day, five persons will offer fast. Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan inaugurated the stir.

The Council complains that the promises given by the government following similar agitation on the Republic Day two years ago had not been carried out. They want the government to set up a tribunal to decide on a compensation package, hold special medical camps to include fresh victims on the official list of victims, pensions for all categories of the victims, restoration of distribution of free medicines, renovation of BUDS special schools for the victims, and early commencement of the work on the proposed medical college in the district.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said in a press release that Opposition leader Oommen Chandy owed an apology to endosulfan victims for not doing much for them when he was in power.

The UDF government had disbursed Rs. 104.40 crore as compensation recommended by the National Human Rights Commission and Rs. 46.31 crore as monthly pension and other benefits. On the other hand the total benefits given by the previous (LDF) government were only of Rs. 1.83 crore. Mr. Achuthananndan should be explaining this.

Mr. Chandy also noted that the government had issued orders to write off loans totaling Rs. 10.98 crore taken by 1190 families of victims.