THE HELL IN "GOD'S ON COUNTRY" 

                                                       

                                                       I would like to invite you 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 I invite you to Kasaragod is the one of the most beautiful districts in Kerala state with 11 rivers (out of a total of 44 rivers in Kerala), forts, beaches, hills,backwaters and cashew fields.Today the beautiful place under unknown diseases. The cause of this diseases is due to the large usage of Endosulfan. Endosulfan is an organochlorine  compound that is used as an insecticide and acaricide. This colourless solid has emerged as a     highly controversial agrichemical due to its acute toxicity, potential for bio-accumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor. Banned in more than 63 countries, including the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, and other Asian and West African nations, and soon in the United States, it is still used extensively in many other countries including India and Brazil. It is produced by Bayer Crop Science,Makhteshim Agan and Government of India–owned Hindustan Insecticides Limited among others. Because of its threats to the environment, a global ban on the use and manufacture of endosulfan is being considered under the Stockholm Convention.

        About 25 years Kerala Government sprayed the deadly pesticide Endosulfan 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.

                                             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 few years in Kerala. People are still facing the side effects of Endosulfan in Kerala and Karnataka but the Indian Government has not yet banned the deadly chemical. Indian Government opposed the International ban of Endosulfan in Stockholm Convention. 

                      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. Almost all the nations like Brazil, Jamaica, U.S, Canada etc.baned Endosulfan from their territory but it still available in Indian Market.

                                  I know this article will not open the tightly close the eyes of the politicians, they are bothered about their own family and relatives. I requesting you politicians, while counting crores please think about the peoples who are struggling due to Endosulfan in India.