2,210 VICTIMS OF ENDOSULFAN PESTICIDE
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the secretaries of the Union Environment and Forests Ministry and the chief secretary of Kerala, returnable in four weeks, on reports that the aerial spraying of Endosulfan in Kasaragod district in the state had affected people severely.
The news reports alleged that the aerial spraying of Endosulfan, a pesticide banned in Kerala since 2005, continued even now, affecting poor villages of northern Kasaragod.
India was the world’s largest consumer of Endosulfan at a time when even less advanced countries had banned it long ago. As many as 2,210 victims of Endosulfan poisoning were found in six worst-affected villages in the state.
Union Minister of state for environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh had already gone on record stating that he would recommended a ban on the pesticide if there was robust evidence that the chemical caused severe damage to the methodology used, aerial spraying, for Endosulfan application could be the reason for the misery of the people
The state government must and could initiate action against the use of Endosulfan in the state. The harmful pesticide that was used mainly in cashew farms owned by the plantation corporation of Kerala. Former M.P A.C Jose said that the pesticide had been banned even when A.K Antony was the chief Minister. He said the government should give priority to upholding public health than the concern of a few labour unions over job security
Prof. John Kurakar
2 comments:
I was speaking to my uncle the other day who has been working at an Endosulfan manufacturing plant for the past 20 years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with him or any of my other family members. So I am just wondering, what is the basis of all these reports that claim that workers get affected by Endosulfan exposure>? Where is the proof?
Mr.Leo have you ever visited the endosulfan affected regions in kerala,kasaragod. More than 2000 peoples are affected by the pesticide. Most of them are the workers of the farms where endosulfan is used. That itself is the proof for the harmful effect of endosulfan.
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