Mangaluru: Even as the state government halted the stipend for endosulfan victims for the specious reason of fund not being released yet, the district government hospital Wenlock on Monday refused to conduct the endosulfan- percentage-test for a three-year-old female baby and instructed the parents to make a visit for same after the child attains the age of five.
After the high court of Karnataka disposed off the case in connection to endosulfan in the month of January this year in favor of victims, the state passed an order asking the health department to identify the victims within March 31, 2015. “What will be the plight of victims not listed under endosulfan category before the 31st,” asked Shridhar Gowda activist from Endo Virodhi Horata Samiti.
The reason quoted for not carrying out the percentage test was that psychiatric analysis of children, cannot be done before the child attains the age of five. Though the reason offered by the medical attendant was genuine, confusion over stipend facilities arise from this incident. The victims whose percentage of disability has not been determined are not entitled to avail stipend facility provided by the government, and in the instant case the girl will not reach the age of five before March 31,2015.
The father of three-year old Abhijna lamented that, had this been communicated earlier by the medical officer of Bantwal taluk, they would not have traveled to Wenlock hospital. Janardhan Gowda, father of Abhijna told Newskarnataka.com he was informed to make a visit to the Wenlock hospital, to list his daughter among the endosulfan victims to claim the stipend.
He was not kept in loop by the medical officer of his place over medical technicalities. He said he was now unaware of how to claim stipend for his daughter, while his other nine year old daughter, was fortunately assessed under the percentage test earlier.
The confusion on the future of victims not identified as endosulfan victims, before the stipulated date has not been resolved by the district administration. The District Health Officer Ramakrishna Rao expressed that currently there was no clarity in this deadlock and he would put forward the same at the next endo-meeting scheduled to be held on March 19, 3:00 PM at Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office.
The DC has to find a solution. On the incident of Abhijna, the DHO said that psychiatric analysis could not be done for any child falling below the age of five. However, he had no answer whatsoever on the future of victim.
Venkatesh Nayak, member of Karnataka State Child Rights Protection Commission, during his recent tour to coastal district had visited Jagadish’s family. When contacted by Newskarnataka.com, he slammed the District Health Officer and Nodal officer of the district. He said officers should include the child on humanitarian grounds rather than denying inclusion citing medical reasons.
“I agree that on medical grounds psychiatric analysis cannot be done. But the child would die if the department fail to provide stipend.” When asked how she could avail stipend, Nayak informed that the commission would send a notice to the health and family welfare department to provide stipend to Abhijna and other similar cases on humanitarian basis.
This fresh hurdle irked Shridhar Gowda, activist, who alleged that the principal secretary of the health and family welfare department has given oral instructions to considerably limit the number of endo-victims. “Otherwise they would not have denied medical test for Abhijna.” He added that he was dismayed by the lackluster response by the officials of the district.
