Endosulfan victim ends life

In a shocking incident, a 60-year-old Endosulfan victim from a panchayat in Kerala's northernmost Kasaragod district ended her life by hanging as she was allegedly unable to meet her growing medical expenses.

Endosulfan, a pesticide, had been sprayed on cashew plantations of Kasaragod several years ago, contaminatingsoil and water and causing health hazards to people in the district.

The incident happened yesterday when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was in the district attending a function.

Rajeevi, a housewife, was living in the abject poverty in Bellur panchayat and needed about Rs 2,000 every week for medical expenses, which the family found difficult to raise.
 

One of her son's said their mother had various complications due to Endosulfan and was also a heart patient.

Both her sons, who do odd jobs for a living, have their own families to take care of.

One of the woman's neighbours Shashidar said "we are in a state of shock. She had said she needed about Rs 2000 every week for medicines and was finding it difficult."

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the government should immediately release Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the family.

"A woman victim of endosulfan, who was finding it difficult to raise money for her treatment,has ended her life. The Chief minister, despite being in Kasaragod, did not visit the family. This was a serious lapse," he said.

KPCC President V M Sudheeran demanded that the CM call a high level meeting to discuss issues relating toEndosulfan victims.

Ambalthara Kunhikrishnan,who works for Endosulfan victims in the district, said the woman was not getting medicines and she had taken the extreme step due to financial constraints.

"There are five MLAs from Kasaragod. They have a responsibility towards those suffering from the after effects of the poisonous pesticide to get them aid", he said.

Local MLA M A Nellikunnu said Rajeevi ended her life yesterday at 3 PM when the ChiefMinister was in the district. However, he did not visit the heartbroken family to console them, he said.

Kasaragod District Collector Jeevan Babu said the woman was getting a monthly pension of Rs 1,200 and was entitled to free medical treatment. The reason for extreme step was yet to be ascertained. There are about 5,700 people in the endosulfan victims' list, he told PTI.

The National Human Rights commission had also earlier this year issued notice to the state government over reported denial of relief to victims of Endosulfan.