Daya Bai to continue protest despite ministers promising to meet endosulfan victims’ demands

The state government on Sunday expressed its desire to fulfill the demands made by social activist Daya Bai, who is on a hunger strike in the state capital demanding relief for the endosulfan victims of Kasaragod.

However, the 81-year-old activist has not called off the strike, though Health Minister Veena George and Higher Education Minister R. Bindu met him and the leaders of the Action Council and assured that the demands would be met.

It is learned that the minutes of the meeting, which the government passed to the Executive Council on Sunday evening, did not adequately reflect these promises. A decision on the future of the movement is likely to be taken on Monday.

Earlier in the day, two ministers, who met Ms. Daya Bai at the General Hospital here, where she is admitted, termed the discussions “fruitful”. Ms. Bindu said the Executive Council and Ms. Daya Bai have agreed to take the call. Out of strike on the strength of assurance

He also informed Ms. Daya Bai that the decisions of the government would be given to her in writing.

“We have considered their demands. Ninety per cent of this can be implemented and we have informed them that it will be done at the earliest,” Ms. Bindu told media persons after the talks. Ms. George said that the talks were fruitful and there was a need to improve health facilities in Kasaragod district. The work will be completed in a time bound manner.

Ms. Daya Bai has been on a hunger strike outside the Secretariat since October 2 demanding a permanent solution to the problems of Endosulfan victims.

Their demands included better medical facilities in Kasaragod for the victims, care centers in all gram panchayats of the district, a special medical camp to identify those affected by endosulfan and a campus of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the northern district.