Endosulfan victims in Coastal Karnataka begin campaign for state aid

MANGALURU: A postcard campaign demanding the government to fulfill various demands of endosulfan victims has received a good response on the very first day, with over 1,000 postcards being sent to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

Endosulfan is a restricted-use pesticide that is particularly effective against aphids, fruit worms, beetles, leafhoppers, moth larvae, and white flies on a wide variety of crops.

The coastal Karnataka districts counts many victims of Endosulfan, which was aerially sprayed on cashew plantation by Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation (KCDC) for about two decades. Though the use of endosulfan was banned in 2011, the use of pesticide for 20 years left many victims, who have been suffering its effects.

Finding that the state government failed to fulfill their demands for assistance, the Endosulfan victims and their caretakers have now started a 10-day postcard campaign from September 20.

“At present, the government is paying a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000 to the endosulfan affected people which is a very small amount. We want the government to increase it to Rs 10,000,” Endo Virodhi Horata Samithi president Sridhar Gowda told Deccan Chronicle.

“The government should also take steps to provide nutritious food and distribute UDID cards to the victims. The government should make proper arrangements for the treatment of the endosulfan victims. All the demands are unheard of as the post of Commissioner is vacant. The government should take measures to appoint a commissioner at the earliest. We have mentioned all these in the postcard,” he added.

On the first day, about 1,000 postcards have been posted to the Chief Minister. To further strengthen the campaign, activists have also started an email campaign today.