Udupi: Minister in charge Pramod Madhwaraj has directed the District Commisioner Priyanka Mary Francis to take up initiatives to set up a permanent rehabilitation centre for people suffering from the effects of endosulfan.

Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, recently directed Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis to take up with the Department of Health and Women and Child Welfare the issue of construction of a permanent rehabilitation centre for people suffering from the effects of endosulfan.

Addressing the gathering at a meeting on the health and rebailitation issues concerning such endosulfan patients.

Minister said the government had decided to construct a permanent rehabilitation centre at Senapura in Nada Gram Panchayat in Kundapur taluk.

Madhwaraj directed officers to provide a monthly pension to the 13 persons who were recently found to be having health problems.

Minister Madhwaraj directed the officers to provide bus passes immediately to those suffering from endosulfan. They should not be made to wait, he added.