Pesticide poisoning in Maha: Rs 2 lakh to kin of deceased

The state government has appointed a committee, headed by the additional chief secretary (ACS) Home, Sudhirkumar Srivastawa, to probe the death of farmers who died due to inhalation of pesticides. These deaths occurred from July to October 1, in Yeotmal district in Vidarbha. The state announced Rs 2 lakh to the kin of farmers as ex-gratia amount from the Gopinath Munde Shetkari Apaghat Vima Yojana (Accidental Insurance Scheme).

According to an official from the Chief Minister’s Office, the actual deaths are 17 and 40 farmers are under observation at the government medical college in Yeotmal. As reported by the Free Press Journal on Tuesday, 18 farmers died due to inhaling of poisonous pesticides and more than 650 are affected.

In a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, it was decided that Rs 2 lakh would be given for the next to the kin of the deceased from the Gopinath Munde Accidental Insurance Policy scheme. “The farmers who are not covered under the insurance scheme, will be given the same amount from the Chief Minister’s relief fund,” said the official.

The chief minister ordered an inquiry, announced by the ACS Home, into farmers’ death by poisonous pesticide in Yeotmal district. The cabinet has also decided to distribute free masks to farmers and conduct an awareness campaign.

“It will be mandatory for distributors of pesticides to provide security kits from the corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund. The district civil surgeon has been informed to submit the report of post-mortem and blood samples as early as possible to the district collector,” said the official.

Meanwhile, Vijay Kumar, secretary to agriculture department, visited the hospital on Monday. Sadabhau Khot, minister of state for agriculture, will visit the district on Wednesday and will hold a review meeting.