Kerala 'silent' on compensation over endosulfan deaths: NHRC

This came to light in a compliance report which the state government filed in the NHRC today.

A senior NHRC official said Kerala government was "silent" on the Commission's recommendation to pay money to the kin of those who died due to the pesticide.

He said the state government did not give the number of victims who had died though the Commission has asked it to conduct a survey to find out the same.

The Commission has directed the Kerala government to give a report in eight weeks on the payments made to those who died due to endosulfan.

On December 31, 2010, the NHRC through a detailed order had recommended that the Kerala government should pay at least Rs five lakh to the next of kin of those who died and to those who were fully bed ridden or mentally retarded and Rs three lakh to those with other disability.

A panel of doctors may assess the extent of physical disability to classify the categories of victims, it had said.

A NHRC statement said Kerala has submitted that a lump sum payment of Rs three lakh will be provided to the bed ridden as the first step. This amount will be given in two instalments of Rs. 1.5 lakh each.

The balance amount of Rs two lakh will be considered as deposit and the beneficiaries will be given a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 for a period of five years equal to the return for long term deposit of the solatium amount.

The deposited amount of Rs two lakh will be returned to them after two years.

The Commission accepted this proposal and asked the Kerala government to pay monetary relief in the similar manner to the next of kin of those who had succumbed to diseases caused by endosulfan. (More)