List of Endosulfan Victims will be Comprehensive: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the Assembly that all deserving will  be included in the list of endosulfan victims, in the wake of reports that all victims have not been fully included in the list.

 ‘’The govt is very serious with respect to welfare of endosulfan victims. Now only people in 11 panchayats have been included in the list of endosulfan victims.  The govt has called a meeting on June 18 to discuss the issue,’’ Chandy said, while replying to a submission raised by Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan.

 With respect to the demands to write off the loans of the victims, Chandy said that the government was actively considering waiving the debts of the victims.

 On the charges raised by VS that the govt had not provided relief and not implemented the decisions taken in the January meeting, Chandy said an amount of `38.4 lakh has been allotted to the Collector in March.  “The second phase of the relief was completed on Sunday,’’ he said.  Claiming that most of the decisions taken in the January meeting had been implemented, the CM said some of the decisions could not be implemented as the election code of conduct was in force.  Bringing to the notice of the House the suicide of a middle-aged couple in a hospital room in Kasaragod, after allegedly killing their son who was an endosulfan victim, VS said the family was forced to commit suicide as govt had not provided them relief. CM said that the boy was included in the list of the endosulfan victims. It was at this stage that the Opposition leader asked about steps taken by the govt to include all those eligible in the list of victims.