The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Kerala government over reported denial of relief committed to victims of endosulfan insecticide and sought reports on the matter within two weeks.
The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that there are many endosulfan victims in Kerala and that the relief, which was supposed to be given, in terms of the directions of the Commission dated December 31, 2010, was not being extended to the victims.
"The contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of the victims," said the Commission while issuing the notice to the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, District Collectors of Kasaragod and Palakkad calling for reports on the matter within two weeks.
The Commission has also observed that the government of Kerala is bound to compensate and rehabilitate the victims. The state government had issued an order on May 26, 2012 notifying that the recommendations of the NHRC were to be implemented and also laid down the method by which the compensation was to be paid to various categories of victims of endosulfan.
"If the victims of endosulfan are not being compensated in terms of the government of Kerala order dated May 26, 2012, it amounts to violation of their human rights," the Commission said in a statement.
The report, carried on January 18, 2016, refers to an unofficial survey that 613 children below the age of 14 continue to suffer from the illness caused by the aerial spraying of the pesticide in mango plantation of Muthalamada in Palakkad district of Kerala.
The report cites case of a girl, who, despite having born after two years of global ban on the pesticide endusulfan, suffers from physical illness because of the residuary effect of the pesticide.
The report further states that the families of the victims are demanding an expert study at Muthalamada, Velanthavalam, Vadakarapathi, Eruthempathy, Nenmara and Nelliyampathy gram Panchayats.
Endosulfan, a pesticide, which is not easily degradable, after its spraying several years ago contaminated the soil and water and found its way into the food chain affecting lower and higher forms of life including humans, in parts of Kerala.
