The first phase of ambitious rehabilitation project for Endosulphan pesticide victims of Kasargod district of Kerala by Solidarity Youth Movement has been completed within a very short time span of 14 months. The rehabilitation project was designed for the victims of aerial spraying of Endosulphan in the cashew estates under the control of Plantation Corporation of Kerala. The spraying had been going on with the help of helicopters since 1976, thrice a year. The toxic pesticide used in the spraying has caused deaths, chronic illness, mental retardation, etc. More than 4000 people fell victim to this spraying. Numerous have lost lives.
Among the perennially ill the handicapped and the cancer patients outnumber the rest. The depressing picture includes those with respiratory problems, still births, inborn errors like huge heads, genital abnormalities, broken and weak bones, broken skin, mental retardation, etc. The project focused five of mostly affected panchayats, viz. Enmakaje, Kumbadaje, Muliyar, Kayyoor Cheemeni and Pulloor Periya. Medical aid, housing, educational aids, employment, food ration were the major activities in the project.
The Solidarity rehabilitation project, completed in 14 months spending a sum of Rs. 50 lakh, has been dedicated to the State by Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala Ameer T. Arif Ali. He said the project exemplified that there was no dearth of virtue in youth. “We called the youths of 1970s as ‘youths in fury’ but we found their indolence later. Youths were being immersed in liquor and drug abuse, earned much to become spendthrifts and some turned to extremism and terrorism. In between them the Solidarity has been working, upholding the magnanimity of humanism and service to the downtrodden. This work has no interest other than the grace of Almighty,” he said.
The media has not given much importance to this project but they have given coverage to this organisation when they met face to face the police while trying to break the embargo at Chengara. The media has been reporting only clashes and mayhem. They should give due consideration to humanitarian activities, Arif Ali suggested.
It is high time to re-examine whether we need deadly development projects, said N.K. Premachandran, Minister for Water Resources, Kerala while delivering his speech on the occasion. “The calamity hit area of Endosulphan spraying indicates that the impact study should be duly considered when introducing new projects. The developments without planning overturned the environment all over Kerala. In this arena the Solidarity could open a new warfront and it is a constructive one. The government and other non-governmental organisations can make it a model. Highly we need a responsible capital investment,” he said.
Former Minister Mathew T Thomas said the Solidarity has taken the Endosulphan threat with serious concern. “Endosulphan calamity makes us realise that calamity occurs parallel to development. We need development not profiteering in a short span, but one that can sustain the whole living beings and caring,” he said.
Minister N.K. Pemachandran gave away keys of 14 houses built as part of the rehabilitation project. Kowsalya, Muhammed Yaseen and Maimoona of Kayyoor-Cheemeni Panchayat, Faiz of Pulloor-Periya Panchayat, Jameela, Fareeda and Ayisha of Mooliyar Panchayat, Muhammad, Bhavya and Rekha of Kumbadaje Panchayat, Jeevan Raj-Devi Kiran and Soumya Sheni of Enmakaje Panchayat and Ajith Shaji of Badiyadukka Panchayat received the keys. Employment aid was distributed to Alanthatta Kunjikkannan and Pilavalappil Latheef by former minister Mathew T Thomas and Educational aid was distributed to Manoj of Kalappuram by KPCC general secretary M I Shanavas.
Seventeen new houses were built as part of the project. Another 17 houses were maintained. More than 100 patients are getting regular expert treatment. Two hundred forty-four families benefited from food ration. More than 100 students benefited from educational aid. Ten families were supported with employment schemes.
P. Karunakaran MP, CT Ahammedali MLA, KV Kunhiraman MLA, Kasargod Municipal Chairperson Bifathima Ibrahim, Enmakaje Panchayat President A Pushpa, Mooliyar Panchayat President Khalid Bellippadi, Documentary Director MA Rahman, Press Club President Soopi Vanimel, Anti Endosulphan Committee chairman Narayanan Periya, Jamaat-e-Islami District President PK Aboobaker Nadvi, SIO State President PM Salih and Punchiri Club President KB Muhammad Kunhi spoke.
Project coordinator KK Basheer submitted the report and he received a memento from T Arif Ali. Solidarity state president P Mujeeb Rahman presided over the function. Solidarity state secretaries M Sajid and PI Naushad, Assistant Secretary NK Abdussalam, State Working Committee Members VM Ibrahim, KT Hussain, KA Faisal, Jamaat-e- Islami District Vice President Nasar Cherukara, Secretary CA Moideen Kunhi, Wyanad District President VP Basheer were also present on the occasion. Solidarity General Secretary KA Shafeek extended welcome address and District President KK Ismail expressed vote of thanks to the whole august audience and dignitaries.