5,221 Endosulfan victims in DK: DC

The fresh survey conducted by the district administration to identify the Endosulfan victims in Dakshina Kannada district has put the total number of victims at 5,221.  

The new survey taken up on October 10 as per the State government’s order, was
concluded on Wednesday. The district administration has conducted the survey in 103 villages of four taluks namely Bantwal, Belthangady, Sullia and Puttur, with the help of ASHA workers and Auxillary Nurse Midwife (ANMs). The survey was conducted to find out more number of Endosulfan victims who are suffering from physical and psychological disorders.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda said that as per the fresh figures obtained during the survey, 2,443 victims have been identified in Belthangady taluk, 1,372 in Puttur taluk, 726 in Sullia taluk and 680 in Bantwal taluk.

Of the 5,221 identified victims, 179 are completely bed-ridden, while rest of them are suffering from comparatively less ailments.

“With the newly available data in hand, I have written to the State government asking to provide a team of expert doctors to the district for conducting medical examination and ascertain the disease of the identified victims. If the government approves the same, the medical tests will be conducted in the respective taluks from the second week of November,” said the DC.

The district administration had conducted the previous survey in 92 villages, while the new survey is conducted in 103 villages. Describing the criteria for selecting the villages for survey, Channappa Gowda said that the villages were chosen based on the suggestions from the organisations working for Endosulfan victims, residents of Endosulfan affected villages and on the information available with the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation (KCDC).

Though KCDC data suggests that the aerial spray was done on only 42 villages, the district administration included additional 61 villages to the survey list. “We would ensure that the victims who are left out during the survey too would be added in the list, if it is brought to our notice in future,” he assured.