Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)
Puttur, Apr 7: “India happens to be the only country in the world to continue to feed poison to its citizens, even after realizing its mistake. By permitting blatant sale and use of insecticide-cum-acaricide, endosulfan, it has been playing with the lives of the people, who suffer from deformed limbs, crippled brain functioning, cancer etc. The central government is directly responsible for this tragedy,” stressed president of Udupi-based Human Rights Protection Foundation, Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag.
He was delivering lecture at a programme meant to create awareness about the ill-affects of endosulfan, held under the aegis of the National Service Scheme unit of Vivekananda College here, and humanities association, on Wednesday April 6 at the college premises.
“About 15,600 people from Kasargod district alone have suffered in various ways because of irresponsible use of endosulfan. About 17,000 more from Dakshina Kannada district have suffered mental disorders,” Shanbhag said, supporting his claims with the help of documents and studies undertaken by him. He also used slides about tragic affects of endosulfan to drive home his point.
Shanbhag reasoned that the government is not willing to close down the company which produces endosulfan, as it registers a turnover of about Rs 4,500 crore annually. He claimed that the company, after endosulfan was banned in USA in 1984, shifted its base to India in 1998 and started manufacturing this poisonous insecticide. “Once endosulfan is sprayed through helicopters, it gets mixed with earth, water, and human bodies, heaping untold miseries on those who come into contact with contaminated air, water and earth,” he explained.
He lamented that endosulfan, use of which has been banned in 73 countries, continues to play with the lives of citizens in our country. Human Rights Protection Foundation demands for a comprehensive plan to test the genes of the people living in endosulfan-affected areas. The foundation will also be holding a signature campaign against endosulfan use, for being submitted to the union environment minister, besides continuing to carry on its fight against use of endosulfan in the courts, he added.
College principal, H Madhava Bhat, presided over the programme. Lecturer, S N Bhat, welcomed. Dr M K Shreeshakumar proposed the vote of thanks.