By TCN News,
Thiruvananthapuram: An all-party team from Kerala led by the Health Minister will meet the Prime Minister demanding a ban on endosulphan, the pesticide which is known to have caused health and environmental hazards in the northern district of Kasargod. April 25, the day of the beginning of the Geneva Conference where a world-wide ban on endosulphan would be discussed, would be observed as anti-endosulphan day in the state.
A fast-satyagraha will be held in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on April 25 as part of the observance of the anti-endosulphan day. Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan will inaugurate the satyagraha to be held from 10 am to 5 pm, raising the slogans ‘impose a world-wide ban on the endosulphan which destroys man and other living beings and the nature’ and ‘the central government should support the ban in the Geneva Convention’. Programmes will be held in the district level also on the day in which ministers, MPs, MLAs, environmentalists, civil society activists etc will take part.
Endosulphan found in blood
Meanwhile, a new study report of the Kozhikode Medical College reportedly reveals that the people in the affected areas face critical health problems. The blood samples of 41 persons contained varying amounts of endosulphan. The study conducted among school students showed big difference in the amount of estrogen. The children above 10 years had 6.7 times more difficulties in movement, when compared to the children of areas which were not affected. Infant mortality rate was 2.25 times higher in the areas. Epilepsy, asthma, skin diseases, problems in eye-sight etc were found to be more in children of the affected areas in comparison with other children.
The study was conducted in 11 panchayats in Kasargod district by the Community Medicine Department of the Medical College. The decision to carry out the study was taken in April 2010 funded by Rs 10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Tackling numerous hurdles, the study began in September 2010 and the report was submitted to the Health Secretary in February. Efforts were reportedly made to cover up the report, however the report was made public last day.
There have also been reports that foeticide was widespread in the affected areas out of fear that babies would be born with disabilities. Women had the foeticide done in private clinics in nearby Mangalore in Karnataka.
The endosulphan was sprayed in the cashew plantations of the state-run Plantation Corporation in Kasargod district from around 1970s to 2001. The Corporation rented helicopters for the aerial spraying, which resulted in the venomous pollution of air, water and land as well as serious health hazards for even foetuses. The side-effects were found comparatively more in 11 panchayats. Studies had shown that amounts of endosulphan were present in even the blood and breast-milk in the people of affected areas, besides plants, trees, animals like cattle, and even the land.
The second meeting of the parties of the Stockholm Convention is meeting in Geneva from April 25 to 29 to discuss among other things a global ban on the pesticide. Already 81 countries have banned or decided to ban the endosulphan, while only 27 countries are using it. According to reports, India was the only member country to take a stand against the ban at the Sixth Meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Convention that recommended the ban last year. The pesticide is produced in the country and more than 40% of the production is exported, according to reports.
In spite of demands to ban the pesticide, Agriculture Minister Mr Sharad Pawar last day stated that the country’s representatives would not support the ban on endosulphan in the Geneva Conference. The pesticide is banned in Kerala and Karnataka, and it can’t be banned all over the country for the interest of only two states. The central government has called for a new study by the Indian Council of Medical Research to learn about the effects of the pesticide. Earlier, Minister of State for Food Prof KV Thomas had entered into controversy for his statement that there was no proof that the endosulphan was the reason for the health-related and other problems in Kasargod. His statement was widely criticised and now, even the state Congress committee has taken a stand for the ban of the pesticide in the country.
Wide-spread demand for ban
Senior Congress leader VM Sudheeran last day stated that the stand of the central Agriculture Department in the matter of the endosulphan was against the interests of the country. He accused that the department was functioning as the brand ambassador of endosulphan. He reportedly expressed his support to the observance of the anti-endosulphan day and fast-satyagraha on April 25 under the leadership of the Chief Minister. He also added that the Chief Minister should lead the all-party team to meet the Prime Minister on the matter.
Opposition leader Oommen Chandy had written to the Prime Minister requesting a ban on the endosulphan in the country. The pesticide was banned in Kerala by the UDF government. The state Congress committee has also demanded a ban for the pesticide in the country.
While talking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that the central government has not yet got ready to consider the state demand to provide financial aids to the victims of the endosulphan tragedy. A total of 16 teams have conducted studies in the area. And another central team is coming next month. This is like torturing the victims, he said.
The National Human Rights Commission in its meeting held on April 19 repeatedly requested the central government to impose a ban on the endosulphan, according to reports. While the Indian Council of Medical Research, which has been directed by the central government for another study in the affected areas, informed the Commission that the study would take some time, the central Agriculture Ministry stated that a ban would not be imposed until the study report came out. The Health Secretary which represented Kerala informed Commission of the measures taken by the state and asked the centre for more financial aid.
Several environmental and civil society organizations have been demanding a ban on the dangerous pesticide for a long time. The Envisag (Endosulphan Victims Support Aid Group) had organized a protest programme of mothers of the area on April 19 in Kasargod. The Solidarity Youth Movement, which has been carrying out relief and rehabilitation works in the area, demanded that the central government should support the ban on the pesticide in the Geneva Conference. Even though more than 150 studies have come out stating the hazards created by it on earth, India is taking a stand supporting the endosulphan influenced by big companies, accused the organization.
[Photo by http://vakkomsen.blogspot.com]