JOIN USWith this, the number of deaths occurred in the recent past due to suspected endosulfan-effect has gone up. Praveen, one among the three children of retired teacher Deekaiah Gowda, was suffering from illness for the last 15 years.
He had studied upto PUC but discontinued his education owing to physical weakness. His health deteriorated day-by-day, and he had became totally disabled and bed-ridden.
District Health Officer Dr H Jagannath told Deccan Herald that Praveen was included in the list of persons suffering with 100 per cent disability, prepared by a team of medical experts last year.
He was also included in the list of 103 disabled persons sent by the district administration to the State government recommending Rs 25,000 compensation each in Dec last. Former minister Shobha Karandlaje had visited the endosulfan-affected areas on December 19, and the issue had been raised in the Assembly too.
Following this, the DK deputy commissioner had sent a proposal to the Government seeking a special grant of Rs 25.75 lakh for compensation. When contacted, DC V Ponnuraj said that the Government is likely to approve the proposal. However, it has not yet accepted that the mental and physical abnormalities in the region are due to the effects of endosulfan.