Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Tuesday announced a comprehensive package for relief and remediation of victims of the endosulfan pesticide in the State. The package includes higher pensions, special education, housing, drinking water supply, rehabilitation, training and employment. Debt relief to the victims' families would also be considered. Mr. Achuthanandan made the announcement after a conference of officials, people's representatives and non-governmental organisations convened to discuss the plight of...

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom on Saturday said the government would seek a country-wide ban on endosulfan at a meeting convened by the Centre on November 23 to discuss India's stand at the Geneva and Rotterdam conventions. Addressing a press conference here, Mr.Viswom said it had been decided to include the Principal Secretary (Forest) in the Kerala delegation to the November 23 meeting. The Principal Secretaries for Environment, Agriculture and Health would be...

The Communist Party of India State council has asked the Centre to ban endosulfan, which led to deadly diseases and death in several areas in Kasaragod. A resolution adopted by it here on Monday said the ill effects of the pesticide on cashew plantations were hounding an entire population. It was included in the deadly pesticides list and banned in many countries. India was adopting a stand in favour of...

Pesticide issue finds its echo in the Lok Sabha Even as the endosulfan issue rocking Kerala found its echo in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) constituted a committee to study the pesticide's effects in Kasaragod district. ICMR Director-General Vishwamohan Kattoch will head the 10-member committee. It will have various subject experts, including public health workers, as its members. The committee will visit Kerala within a...

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan will convene a conference of officials on November 18 to review relief measures undertaken by the government for victims of endosulfan in Kasaragod district. The conference will review the effectiveness of assistance provided by government to the victims. Besides welfare pensions for the disabled, the government is providing monthly assistance for bystanders of bed-ridden victims, rice at Rs.2 a kg and medical assistance. The meet may also look...