Muthalamada (Kerala), May 1 (ANI): While the agitation for a ban on endosulfan gaining momentum, locals in the Malabar region of Kerala have till now been forced to endure its harmful affects.
The endosulfan pesticide has left a trail of immense damage among numerous families, particularly in Muthalamada in Kasargod District where farmers have relied on it for cashew, mango and other forms of cultivation.
Over 5000 acres of land are under mango cultivation, producing almost 21 varieties popular all over south India.
Endosulfan, due to its low cost, high yield and high effectiveness on insects, has been the main pesticide used in mango orchards over two decades.
However, this has led to locals suffering from birth defects, mental retardation and cancer.
"In 13 years of my marriage, my first son has become blind and dumb. The second one has remained unaffected. While the doctors said water was lodged inside the brain of my third child when he was a foetus. When he was examined, it was confirmed. I don't have any hope that they would survive," said Chandran, a farmer.
Meanwhile, the anti-endosulfan pesticide agitation committee led by locals continued the protest demo, demanding ban on endosulfan pesticide by the federal government.
"The endosulfan issue is a major problem that is affecting a large number of people in Kerala. For the past 40 years, other than Kasaragod, in Palakkad, Wayanad, Idukki, Pathanamthitta districts, endosulfan is being used but in Kasaragod it is on a large scale," said Arumugam, President of Anti Endosulfan Agitation Committee.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had recommended a ban on endosulfan, but the Central government is not willing to impose it, saying that there is no scientific evidence to prove its harmful effect on human body.round 81 countries across the globe have already banned the use of endosulfan. (ANI)
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