Mangaluru: Son of Kamala, bed-ridden due to endosulfan excretes on the bed unknowingly, mumbling to convey discomfort. This is the picture of an endosulfan victim already in distress.
Shockingly when Kamala of Dharmasthala approached KSRTC, Puttur division to collect a free bus pass sanctioned by the government for her son, an official informed her, that she has to collect the pass from Primary Health Center at Kokkada only after producing the endosulfan victim before the PHC. The depot officials of Puttur on Thursday leave to Kokkada to distribute free bus pass to endo-victims.
Talking over phone to Newskarnataka.com, Kamala, disgruntled by the KSRTC’s stipulation, expressed that it would be hard to take her son to the PHC. “Yenk itte dada manpodu gottavondijji (I don’t know what I can do now)” lamented Kamala.
Narrating the problem she said, she had to book a car or a jeep to take the victim to the PHC after arranging money to pay travel expenses. The penury has been hurting the family after her son contracted endosulfan related problems. “My son excretes unknowingly and it is difficult manage this while traveling,” she complained.
The KSRTC, on the other hand, has to follow certain guidelines. As per the guidelines, te corporation should ensure that the free passes reach the rightful beneficiaries. This was the argument put forth by Narayana Kamath, Assistant Traffic Manager, KSRTC Puttur division.
According to the higher authorities of KSRTC, the victim must produce the order of the Tashildar which states that ‘endo-victims are entitled to stipend’, in order to collect the free bus pass.
Kamath said he would have liked to handover the pass to parents of bed-ridden victims, but is constrained by the rules. “I am helpless as I would be made responsible if it does not reach the truly entitled.”
On the other hand District Health Officer of DK criticized the guidelines of the KSRTC and said the latter corporation is playing with the sentiments of the endo-victims. He said, “on the day of distribution, KSRTC must give bus passes on grounds of humanity, if parents failed to bring the endo-victims to the PHC.
