When huge political debates are going on the nuclear bill and liability of nuclear suppliers after nuclear accidents …Did you think that after the Bhopal Incident our leaders were more careful about industrial and chemical disasters and its safety measures…and that’s why they had a huge debate on nuclear bill and its liability in Parliament …Then you are making yourselves fools …..I would like to invite you to Kerala-famously known as God’s own country. Famous for its greenery and natural beauty Kerala is a world famous tourist spot. Kerala has highest literacy rate in the nation. But Education and lust to earn more have made keralites fools. They have started clearing paddy fields and coconut farms and turned into cash crops such as rubber and cashewnuts. In the run to greater yield …Malayalees are using unethical and harmful pesticides in cashew plantations.

 Now let’s visit a district in Kerala – Kasaragod ………once known for its greenery today Kasaragod is haunted by diseases and tragedy. Thanks to hamlets of cashew plantations spread along the district. The diseases are side effects of ENDOSULFAN a deadly pesticide sprayed in these plantations. The UNO classifies ENDOSULFAN as highly hazardous pesticide and banned in 62 countries. Even though Endosulfan is banned now ….for 26 years Kerala Government sprayed the deadly pesticide in government owned cashew plantations under Plantation Corporation of Kerala.

The Pesticide was sprayed aerially with specially used helicopters .As the plantations are mainly in mountainous areas, the pesticide drains and gets washed down the slopes during rains into drinking water below. Consuming this water will result in diseases ranging from physical deformities, cancers, birth disorders and damages to brain and nervous system. During 2000-2001 the victims got huge media exposure and resulted in Study on the victim’s .The study of Endosulfan effects showed greater Abnormalities such as mental retardation, cancer and infertility in the victims. But the pesticide and fertilizer industries where very fast to rubbish the studies. Endosulfan is manufactured and distributed in India by Hindustan Fertilisers limited.

It’s clear that the usage of the Pesticide on the Kerala government owned cashew plantation was a result of nexus between Government officials and Pesticide industries. In Kerala all other cashew plantations are grown without pesticides. The Kerala government spend millions on Pesticides to increase yield and have poisoned the fertile land. India is the largest producer of Endosulfan in the world and also the consumer. It’s not only Kerala facing the dilemma of Endosulfan, Recent reports show some parts of Karnataka too affected badly by the usage of Endosulfan Pesticide.

Even though the Kerala cashew plantations corporation has stopped aerial spraying Endosulfan in Kasaragod instead they have started using a newer pesticide. Endosulfan has been banned for 2 years in Kerala but Kerala Government is discussing about revoking the ban. People are still facing the side effects of Endosulfan in Kerala and Karnataka but the Indian Government has not yet banned the deadly chemical. The Pesticide is still used for cotton and Cashew plantations in many parts of the nation …Karnataka, Punjab, Assam and Andhra Pradesh. India needs an effective chemical norm and should enact a chemical & pesticide policy which would help people affected from chemical accidents & disasters; also stop usage of deadly pesticides for agriculture. Even during the Bhopal gas tragedy Government did nothing for the victims. The victims of Endosulfan also were turned down by the Government ….It is clear that all these chemical disasters are due to ignorant and negligent policies from the Government…..