Endosulfan victims association launched

A forum to protect the rights of endosulfan victims in the state was launched recently.

Endosulfan Victims Welfare Association (EVWA) was the brainchild of Udupi-based Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag. Armed with nine important objectives, Dr Shanbhag told Express on Saturday that besides conducting medical camps, the association will also assist the State and Central governments on disbursing co­mpensation and benefits to two rehabilitation centres set up in Kokkada and Koila in Dakshina Kannada district.

He said that some members like ayurvedic doctor Dr Nithyananda Pai, surgeon Dr Gopinath Pai, dental surgeon Dr Suryakant Pai, residing in areas affected by aerial spraying of endosulfan pesticide were already offering free services to victims. The association also filed a petition in the High Court urging the government to make scanning compulsory in the 19th week of pregnancy. “If the foetus is deformed, it can be terminated without inflicting any harm on the mother,” he informs.

Dr Shanbag also insists on screening for newly married couples in order to detect abrasions in chromosomes. Objecting to Ayush doctors visiting endosulfan-affected areas, he termed the exercise as nothing but a picnic for the Ayush department.   

Such needless expenditure will drain the meager allocation of Rs 2 crore reserved for endosuflan sufferers, he rued.