'Assn to treat Endo victims free of cost till death'

Human Rights Protection Foundation President Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag has said that Endosulfan victims welfare association has been formed in the affected areas in Dakshina Kannada, wherein a few doctors have decided to treat the victims free of cost till their death.

To a query on a team of Ayush doctors visiting the affected areas in Dakshina Kannada, he said that it was on the direction of Health Minister Aravind Limbavalli that the team has paid a visit.

“Ayurveda treats patients for the entire disease and not based on symptoms. At the same time, the government has earmarked only Rs two crore for the Endosulfan victims.”

“I had visited North Karnataka and have trained about 350 officials on the method to identify the Endosulfan victims.

 Endosulfan was sprayed in 147 villages in Honnavar, Bhatkal, Karwar, Sirsi, Ankola and Kumta in the past. College students will be trained to identify the Endosulfan victims at Honnavar on March 12,” he said.

He said: “We want the government to pass an order to scan the pregnant women on the 19th week to ascertain the disability caused due to Endosulfan.

Every marriageable man and woman in the affected areas should go for genetic test.

A group of doctors are making a preliminary study to send a proposal to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), seeking funds to work on genetic mapping to identify the Endosulfan victims in the areas where Endosulfan has been sprayed.”