Distress purchase of coir products to begin soon

Thiruvananthapuram, June 22 (UNI) Kerala Minister for Cooperation and Coir G Sudhakaran told the State Assembly today that distress purchase of coir products through coir cooperatives would begin soon as part of solving the crisis in the coir sector which employed nearly four lakh people.

Replying to a submission by Mr Anthalavattom Anandan (CPI-M), he said institutions, which did not pay minimum wages to workers, would be exempted from the purchase.

Mr Sudhakaran said a sum of Rs 4.86 crore had been set apart to provide 12 months' pension arrears to coir workers. A total of 31 months' pension are due to the workers.

Replying to another submission by Mr C H Kunhambu (CPI-M), Health Minister P K Sreemathi said a scheme for the rehabilitation of the victims of endosulphan pesticide in Kasaragod district was under the consideration of the government.

She said more than 5,000 people had attended medical camps organised for the victims during the last two years, out of which 446 were found suffering from physical disabilities.

Responding to the submission of Mr M Murali (Cong), Ms Sreemathi said opening of haemophilic clinics in all medical colleges in the state would be considered.

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