Mangalore, Apr 1: Although election heat is catching up in the state, none of the political parties have shown interest in highlighting the sufferings of endosulfan victims in their campaigns. Endosulfan victims and those fighting for their rights will not vote for parties who do not include steps to help endosulfan victims in their manifestos, said Shridhar Gowda K, President, Endo Virodhi Horata Samithi, Kokkada.
Addressing media persons at a news conference in Mangalore, Mr. Gowda said that relief for endosulfan victims is treated as a major issue by political parties and politicians in Kerala but their Karnataka counterparts have so far showed minimal interest in this regard.
“Perhaps endosulfan victims get neglected because they are not a 'vote bank' for political parties. The state Assembly elections scheduled to be held soon, we demand that political parties include in their respective manifestos steps they will take to provide relief for endosulfan victims and find a permanent solution to the problem. We will not reveal as to which party we will support but we will certainly oppose those parties which leave out the issue of endosulfan from their manifestos”, Mr. Gowda said.
Alleging the district administration of remaining impassive in terms of addressing the issue of endosulfan victims, Mr. Gowda said that even though an appeal was made to the authorities to reveal the endosulfan victim survey and the list of endosulfan victims identified from medical camps, no attempt has been made in this regard.
The Department of Health is not serious about the issue either, Mr. Gowda said. “They have held medical camps and declared that there are just 1,907 endosulfan victims. They have neither explained the reasons for leaving out other endosulfan victims nor clarified as to what parameters they have used to classify victims of endosulfan. Even though eight months have passed by since the Department of Health submitted a report to the State Legal Services Authority regarding provision of smart card, ambulance, mobile clinics and other facilities for endosulfan victims, no progress has taken place in this front. The state government has approved 3.5 acres of land and Rs. 3 crore for Kokkada Government Hospital, the Revenue Department has still not sanctioned the land for the purpose”, Mr. Gowda groused.
The Samithi will keep fighting for the rights of endosulfan victims and already many people and organizations including Kemaru Mutt Swamiji, Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) have expressed support for the cause, Mr. Gowda said. In case parties fail to address endosulfan issue in elections, a protest will be held with endosulfan victims in attendance in front of the Vidhana Soudha after the new government is formed, Mr. Gowda informed.
Ramesh K, State Secretary, ABVP, and Muhammad Muhsin, President, JIH Youth Wing, DK, were present.
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