Thiruvananthapuram : Women with their endosulfan-affected children staged a 'dharna' in front of the Secretariat here demanding speedy disbursal of compensation and implementation of the rehabilitation package. At least 300 endosulfan-affected children and their family members reached the state capital this morning from Kasaragod, the northernmost district, to participate in the token protest.
Social activist Daya Bai inaugurated the sit-in protest along with former minister and CPI leader, Binoy Vishwam. Those identified as victims in the medical camps should also find a place in the beneficiary list, they said adding if the Kerala government fails to find a solution, an indefinite agitation would be launched from March 15. The Supreme Court had in January last year directed thestate government to disburse compensation and rehabilitation package for endosulfan pesticide victims within 3 months.
A bench headed by then Chief Justice J S Khehar had ordered the government to provide a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of persons who died following exposure to the pesticide and those who became bed-ridden or mentally- challenged. PTI
