CM distributes aid to Endosulfan victims

KASARGOD: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Monday that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would visit the endosulfan-affected areas of the district.Addressing a meeting of officials and representatives of the people at the Collectorate Conference Hall here, the Chief Minister said that he had apprised the Prime Minister of the problems caused by the spraying of endosulfan in the district when he visited Delhi last time. The Prime Minister had assured him that he would visit the affected areas during his next visit to the state.The Chief Minister distributed the financial aid for the endosulfan victims. The UDF Government had increased the aid from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.As many as 176 victims who had been given Rs 50,000 earlier were given an additional Rs 50,000 on Monday. The remaining families in the list of 486 victims were distributed Rs 1 lakh each.“The government is committed to extend maximum help to endosulfan victims,” said Chandy. “Though endosulfan was banned in the district in 2001, it was used in other districts. However, it has been totally banned in the state now.”He added that a package for the victims would be announced after consulting with anti-endosulfan activists, representatives of the people and relatives of the victims.Though the use of endosulfan has been banned in the state, the people of the district are facing acute distress, he said.