The government is to come up with a health package for endosulfan victims in Palakkad following detection of symptoms in 188 people in Kollencode and Muthalamada panchayats in the district.
A full-scale survey in the district is also being thought of by the Health Department as mental retardation, paralysis, and physical deformity have been reported among the 188 people, who are “suspected” victims of the rampant use of endosulfan.
Announcing this in the Assembly on Thursday , Minister for Health V.S. Sivakumar said the health package, on the lines of the one for Kasaragod, would be announced in consultation with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The government was ready to set up a committee to look into the health issues, and was for providing all medical treatment and assistance.
The Health Department had carried out a survey among 50,000 people in Kollencode and Muthalamada panchayats on November 19 and 20, 2010. As many as 46 showed symptoms, and 19 were below 15 years of age.
The other 142 “suspects” were detected in a survey carried out in the district on May 3 and 9 in 2011 as per the directive of the National Human Rights Commission in Palakkad district. The survey showed that there were 17 endosulfan victims in Kumaramputhur, 18 in Akethethara, 14 in Sholayur, 26 in Puthur, 31 in Ozhalapathi, 16 in Nelliampathy, and 20 in Nandiyode.
In Kasaragod
The Health Minister said there were 5,227 confirmed victims of endosulfan in Kasaragod district. Intervening, Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan said pesticides, including endosulfan, that figure on the ‘Red list’ had been banned in the State. A squad comprising officials from the Revenue and Agriculture departments had been set up to confiscate enosulfan being smuggled into the State from across the border, he said.
