One year, 3 months after CM's pledge in assembly, endosulfan victims protest for help at Kasaragod Collectorate

Kasaragod: Endosulfan-affected families launched a sit-in protest in front of the District Collector’s chamber on Thursday morning (October 16), demanding the treatment and medical assistance promised by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in July 2024. Around 76 women and their dependents, impacted by the aerial spraying of endosulfan, turned up after repeatedly being denied their entitled support by the Endosulfan Cell and the collectorate authorities.

On July 10, 2024, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the Assembly that "steps had been taken to include 1,031 endosulfan-affected persons under the Kasaragod Development Package and provide them assistance". He made this announcement under Rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, which allows a minister to formally inform the House about important government decisions, policy measures, or significant developments of public interest.

Among the protesters was Shyni P, a resident of Chemnad, who turned up with her brother Sajith P (28), one of the 1,031 persons referred to by the Chief Minister. Shyni had to give up her job as a daily-wage labourer to take care of Sajith, who has intellectual disabilities. "Till recently, our mother was taking care of him, but she underwent uterus surgery, which went wrong, and now her leg is affected. She cannot support my brother anymore," said Shyni.

The family's struggle has been worsened by financial difficulties due to the government's denial of treatment support over the years. "Four months ago, we sold our house and moved to a rented one," she said.

Bindu, mother of a 31-year-old woman with epilepsy, shared her own ordeal. "My daughter needs medicines costing around Rs 3,000 every month. We have to ask people for help. Sometimes a charity supports us, but we don’t know for how long it will continue," she said.

Despite the Chief Minister's announcement, not a single one of the 1,031 patients -- most of whom have intellectual disabilities -- has received any assistance so far, said Ambalathara Kunhikrishnan, an activist advocating for endosulfan-affected families in Kasaragod.

The struggle behind 1,031
In 2017, following special medical camps, doctors identified 1,905 patients as potentially affected by aerial spraying of endosulfan in Kasaragod’s cashew plantations. However, the collectorate later recognised only 287 patients as endosulfan-affected and included them in the government's list for benefits, including compensation, treatment, and medicines.

With 85% excluded, affected families launched massive protests across the district. In 2018, after reviewing the list, the government added 76 more persons. Yet, protests continued, with activists like Daya Bai joining demonstrations before the Secretariat in 2019. The then Health Minister, KK Shailaja, criticised what she called the "parading" of affected children.

After relentless protests, the government agreed to include all 511 victims under 18 years in the list, making them eligible for free treatment and medicines. This still left 1,031 patients in limbo, prompting affected families to stage indefinite protests in front of the mini civil station in Kanhangad and meet the Chief Minister and district officials multiple times. The protests went on for four months. It was against this backdrop that the Chief Minister announced in July 2024 that steps had been taken to include all 1,031 endosulfan-affected persons under the Kasaragod Package.

When the protesters gathered at the collectorate on Thursday, Collector Inbasekar K sought one more month to get back to them. "Once the Chief Minister announces the Assembly, it is the Collector's responsibility to ensure assistance reaches the victims. Today, it's been more than one year and three months," he said.

Attempt to take credit: Collector
When contacted, Collector Inbasekar said the "20 to 30" protesters were not representative of the 1,031 patients, and were trying to "take credit" when they would be eventually provided with assistance.

"The proposal is under the consideration of the Cabinet. It's in the final stage. Three meetings have been conducted by the Chief Minister's Private Secretary in this regard. This was explained to them. But they were not willing to listen. We don’t know their motives. They only don’t have any idea about what is going on," he said.

'Will return after a month'
"It's been eight years since the medical camp was held. We will wait another month. After that, we will come to the collectorate with our beds if needed," said Shyni.

Ambalathara said that even those on the government's list have been deprived of medicines, treatment, and ambulance services for nearly two years. The Endosulfan Cell, responsible for monitoring the implementation of government decisions, has not met in the past two and a half years, he said.