Nearly 2000 people leading a life trauma and misery attributed to Endosulfan. The recent death of Rabiya 22, from a mysterious undiagnosed ailment blamed on the pesticide, has been a shock coming as it did soon after India had opposed a ban on the pesticide at the sixth meeting of the persistent organic pollutants review Committee of the Stockholm Convention in Geneva.
Nearly 500 people had died from similar diseases in areas surrounding 5000 hectares of the cashew estates on the plantation corporation of Kerala in the district where. Endosulfan had been aerially sprayed for over two decades.
The Committee, which has been leading struggles for the cause of the unfortunate people in 11 panchayats, will submit detailed memorandums to the minister K.V Thomas seeking his urgent inter –venation to get the decision opposing the ban reconsidered. The pesticides have not been in use in the state since December 2005 following the intervention of the Kerala High court.
Endosulfan has spoiled the environment of the district, blessed with 12 rivers virgin lands and abundant natural resources in the lap of the westerns Ghats, people say wells, rivers and more water bodies and other natural resources have been contaminated. Even breast milk has not been spared, not to mention congenital ailments and physical and mental retardation. The relatives of only 175 of the dead had got Rs 50000 each as relief from the chief minister.
Prof. JohnKurakar
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