NHRC notices to the Government of Kerala over reported denial of the committed relief to the victims of endosulfan (22.1.2016)
PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, 22nd January, 2016
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance 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 31st December, 2010, was not being extended to the victims.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, District Collectors of Kasaragod and Palakkad calling for reports in 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 vide order dated 26th May, 2012 had notified 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 26th May, 2012, it amounts to violation of their human rights.
The report, carried on 18th January, 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 named Hemalatha, 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.
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New Delhi, 22nd January, 2016
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance 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 31st December, 2010, was not being extended to the victims.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of right to health of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, District Collectors of Kasaragod and Palakkad calling for reports in 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 vide order dated 26th May, 2012 had notified 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 26th May, 2012, it amounts to violation of their human rights.
The report, carried on 18th January, 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 named Hemalatha, 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.
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