Pension to endosulfan victims increased

Kerala government today decided to increase by Rs 200 the pension to cancer patients included in the list of endosulfan victims.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting here chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to discuss issues connected with people expose to endosulfan in Kasaragod district.
Those who were getting Rs 1000 would get Rs 1200 and those getting Rs 2000 would get Rs 2200. The new pension amount would be paid witheffect from April this year, a statement said.
On the demand to write off loans to the families of the victims, Chandy instructed the District Collector to submit a proposal to the government with details in this regard.

The meeting also discussed about the Rehabilitation Village scheme for the affected persons. Possibility of utilising the 25 acres with Plantation Corporation at Moozhiyar in Kasaragod for rehabilitating the victims was discussed.
Chandy also instructed to take steps to alleviate the sufferings of people affected by spraying of endosulfan pesticide in the Kerala Cashew corporation Plantation in Kasargod and also to provide modern treatment facilities.
Several people were found to be suffering from various types of health problems especially in 11 panchayats of Kasargod district due to environment and water pollution caused by the aftereffects of endosulfan pesticide.