On April 25, when delegates from across the world will meet in Geneva to discuss the Stockholm convention on Persistent Organic Polllutants (POPs), Kerala will observe a black day and Comrade V S Achuthanandan will lead the protest by fasting on that day.
Ever since the first day of assuming office, VS has taken a soft approach to the hundreds of victims of the deadly pesticide which had contaminated a large area in Kasargod district. A solatium of `50,000 was given to the families of all those who died following diseases caused by Endosulfan. It happened within weeks of VS assuming office. The next step was to give a monthly pension of `300 to all living victims of Endosulfan. It was hailed as a major step by environmentalists as victims of Bhopal tragedy had been battling for compensation even then. The pension was increased to `700 and an additional amount of `300 was sanctioned as pension for the caretaker of the victim. In the final year of the LDF rule, these pensions were respectively enhanced to `1400 and `600. The government also took initiatives to provide adequate treatment for Endosulfan victims in Kasargod. Facilities in the primary health centres in the affected areas were increased and mobile clinics were set up. In all the 11 affected panchayats, vehicles and Ashraya workers were arranged to transport Endosulfan victims to hospital and back. In addition, all victims were given identity cards that would ensure them free treatment in all state government hospitals.When the cry for Endosulfan ban again reached its climax this month, VS decided to act stern.
UPA govt favouring pesticide lobby: VS Achuthanandan
Stepping up the attack on the Centre over the issue of banning Endosulfan, Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan today accused the UPA government of favouring the pesticide lobby.
Achuthanandan also termed as "deplorable" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stand that a further detailed study was needed before considering a nationwide ban on it.
He said Singh should not repeat the arguments of agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, who, he alleged, were out to help the pesticide lobby while turning a blind eye to the sufferings of the poor.
"This stand (of Singh) is deplorable. He should immediately take steps to convene the Cabinet to discuss the issue raised by the delegation. He should use his good offices to deal with the issue, affecting many citizens of our country, in a more responsible manner." He said though the Indian Council of Medical Research's report of 2002 was with the Centre, Singh had still told an all-party delegation from Kerala, which met him yesterday, that a further study by ICMR is needed to take a decision.
The Prime Minister should not "helplessly" watch the situation worsen, but instead take urgent steps to ban it, he said a day after he lashed out at Ramesh, ridiculing his environmental concerns as "sheer hypocrisy".
Achuthanandan said hundreds of citizens in Kerala and Karnataka had lost their lives and many were suffering from deformities due to ill-effects of spraying the pesticide.
Ramesh, who claimed to be a person having concern for the environment, had already proved he was not only "anti-environment, but anti-people," Achuthanandan charged.
He wanted to know why six ministers in the Union Ministry from Kerala were keeping silent on the issue. These ministers were also not concerned about getting central aid to implement rehabilitation package for Endosulfan victims, he said.
The Centre had also not bothered to implement the recommendation of the national human rights commission to provide an assistance package to endosulfan victims, he said.
He said the notion so far had been that only Sharad Pawar and his Ministry were supporting endosulfan. With the Prime Minister and Jairam Ramesh speaking in the same language, it had become clear that the Congress and UPA government were also favouring the pesticide lobby, he said.
Achuthanandan said people in 11 panchayats in northern Kerala and 96 villages of southern Karnataka were affected by the pesticide. "The Centre should come out to help the people and not the pesticide lobby," he said.
(Courtesy : DNA)
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