Endosulfan: Amicus curiae unhappy about relief, rehabilitation of victims

MANGALORE: Amicus curiae Vaishali Hegde who had visited Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts a couple of days back to oversee the relief and rehabilitation of endosulfan victims has observed that pension disbursement to victims' was not satisfactory.
Udupi Human Rights Foundation president Ravindranath Shanbhag, a member of the committee headed by Hegde, said: The Amicus Curiae observed that as per the health department's statement before the high court, the process of survey of the victims should have been completed by April 30 and distribution of smart cards should have been complete by June 30.The disbursement of pension should have started in February itself. More than 200 affected complained before Hegde in July that they had received pension for only a month. Many had not received smart cards.
Hegde has ordered officials to inquire into a complaint of Shravan Kumar from Bhatkal against a doctor demanding money to certify disability in Bhatkal.
Many who had come to the meeting at Kundapur alleged that though they had the medical certificate of disability after attending the medical camp organised by the health department, their names did not figure in the victims list.
The team will visit Bidkalkatte, saibarakatte, Belve, Halady, Siddapur, Amparu, Neralakatte and Hattiyangady on August 7 and on August 8, the team will visit Vandse, Nada, Trasi, Kambadakone, Yalajit, Byndoor and Shiroor to assess the ground reality vis-a-vis the statement of the health department regarding the list, smart cards and disbursement of pension.