Keralites consume poison – not to commit suicide – but as a daily routine through their food items. The gut-wrenching stories of Endosulfan victims in Kasaragod district, Kerala, have brought to the fore the grievous consequences of wanton pesticide use in the State’s farming sector.
Those affected are found to suffer from physical deformities, cancers, birth disorders and damages to the brain and the nervous system. More worryingly, congenital abnormalities, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsies and mental retardation were noted in children, with many of them requiring life-long support. Sadly, even as Endosulfan remains banned, those languishing from its after-effects have not received adequate care or support.
What is indeed a matter of grave concern is that it is not merely Endosulfan that has found its way to the farm produce.
Reports indicate that farmers used 888 tonnes of pesticides in the last one year in plantations and for vegetable cultivation. This does not include pesticides used in agriculture. Informal interviews with residents reveal rising awareness and concern as to how their body systems are being subjected to this poison onslaught. Some of them reported varying symptoms such as gastric problems and giddiness to palpitations on a daily basis. Given the recent surge in cancers and non-communicable diseases, their worries are genuinely justified.
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