Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and his Cabinet colleagues visited Kasargode, the district worst affected due to the spraying of endosulfan and disbursed financial aid to children suffering from diseases suspected to be caused by the pesticide endosulfan.

The new scheme intends to provide educational assistance to children of families affected by endosulfan. Assistance to 1,808 ailing students from Class I to Class XII were given at the function.  Students from Class I to VII would be given Rs.1,000, those from Class VIII to X would get Rs.2,000, and those doing Plus One and Plus Two courses would be paid Rs.2,500.

The recipients of this scheme should be studying in any government schools. The list passed by the district Collector prepared on the basis of a survey conducted by the Health department should contain the name of  any member of the family. The children admitted to class 1 would also be entitled to get the financial assistance.

The scheme is implemented by the Kerala Social Security Mission.      For more Details----------------------------------------Application Form

List of Beneficiaries

The State Social Welfare Department in association with the Kerala Social Security Mission organised a four day workshop on film making for school girls with gender based issues as the theme.  Girls between 10 and 17 years of age meritoriously selected from across the state gave vent to their emotions and expressed through the visual media the problems faced by contemporary women.  The Girls were provided training in various aspects and nuances of film making by well known exponents of film making such as Oscar Award Winner Shri. Rusool Pookutty, the showman of Indian Cinema Shri. Subhash Ghai, Actors Shri. Javed Jaffery and Manian Pillai Raju.  The 25 Girls were divided into 5 groups and 5 films were scripted, cinematographed, directed and edited by these girls with technical assistance of a team of film makers led by Shri. Sanjeev Sivan the well-known film director.  The five short films which were crafted by these girls giving wings to their imaginations have been put together to create a short film of 74 minutes duration by Shri. Sanjeev Sivan.

This film was premiered before an august  audience on 14^th February 2011 at 8.30 AM at the Kairali Threatre, Trivandrum, which was well received by them. Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi who was the chief guest of the function distributed the certificates to the girls. Minister for Health and Social Welfare P.K Sreemathy Teacher, Minister for Education and Culture M.A Baby were also present at the occasion. The five short films made by the girls are- Nishadam (based on AIDS affected kids), Thullyam (on gender equality), Punyam (on child abuse), Thaliru (on family problems that arise due to alcoholism), Dhanam (based on dowry).

The State Government has declared a total rehabilitation package for Endosulphan victims of Kasargode District named ‘Snehasanthwanam’.  This involves total health care, distribution of assistive devices, vocational training, other supportive mechanisms for rehabilitation and disbursement of monthly financial assistance.  KSSM has been entrusted by Government to release the monthly financial assistance.  Endosulphan victims who are severely affected, disabled and bed ridden and not in receipt  of any disability pension are being given a monthly assistance of Rs. 2000/-  Those severely affected by the disease and are getting monthly disability pension are being given a monthly assistance of Rs. 1700/-.  The others who are not disabled but affected by disease are entitled to a monthly assistance of Rs. 1000/-.

The identification of beneficiaries who are eligible for assistance will be done by the District Collector, Kasargode based on certification by a team of doctors of the Health Department.

Application called for "ASWASA KIRANAM".

The victims badly affected by the use of endosulfan will be given Rs 700 a month and another 300 to the person who nurses him, said Chief Minister VS Achuthananthan, inaugurating the Project Aswasakiranam at Kasargode.

The families of victims will be given rice at Rs 2 per Kg. Aswasakiran is a project that provides financial support to the bed ridden patients, implemented through Social Welfare Department. Since the amount now given to such patients does not meet their needs- Rs 300- it is now raised to Rs 700. As the person who nurses the victim too gets Rs 300 a month the family would get a consolidated amount of 1000 per month. Govt. is taking such a step as it is the responsibility of govt. to help the victims.

PK Sreemathy Teacher who presided over the function said that out of 527 bed ridden patients, 55 persons are now given 300 per month. Rest of them would be given the amount in the coming month itself.

A mobile unit that reaches out to the patients’ home would also be started as part of this project. Revenue Minister KP Rajendran distributed the aids to the handicapped people. Adv. CH Kunjanbu MLA , CT Ahmed Ali MLA, Panchayath President MV Balakrishnan Master, Collector Anand Singh were present at the occasion. Social Welfare Secretary Usha Titus welcomed the gathering while Regional Director Kerala Social Security Mission Mini Nair said vote of thanks.

Application form for Aswasa kiranam

Doctor's Certificate

Government order for Aswasa kiranam

Aswasa kiranam Press release