Around 50 persons, including women with their children affected by the aerial spraying of pesticide endosulfan in Kasargod district, today began an indefinite dharna on the road here leading to the official residence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
The protest, being staged under the banner of 'Endosulfan Victims Janakeeya Samithi', is to press the main demand of implementation of relief package announced by government and implement the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, Samithi sources said.
The protesters have even brought the mentally challenged children to the venue causing embarrassment to officials and police.
Their grievance was that the relief package announced by government had not been implemented and relief measures did not reach affected persons, sources said.
Talks would be held with the protesters to end the stir, official sources said.
The Commission, among other things, had directed the government to extend compensation of Rs five lakh to the families of those killed due to the effects of pesticide Endosulfan.
Endosulfan victims have been protesting as several persons in the district faced different types of health problems due to the pollution of the environment and water, among others, caused by the spraying of endosulfan in cashew farms in the district in 1990s.
