Endosulfan Problem

The agitation for ban of Endosulfan: Kerala State was having health problem supposed to have been due to the use of Endosulfan pesticide/insecticide in the District of Kasargod. The doctor of the local area where the problems were observed came to the conclusion that the health problems of the area are due to endosulfan usage. Subsequently many investigations were made by different agencies including of the State and Central Government, some Universities of Kerala, Public Interest groups, and manufacturers of endosulfan. The opinions were divided between pro and against use of endosulfan. Some institutions went to legal remedies and the Kerala H C has suggested ban of endosulfan and the state Government enforced the ban. The then ruling group, LDF was vociferous in its opposition to endosulfan usage and the youth organisation of the main partner in LDF went to S C to get the pesticide/insecticide banned in the country itself. The S C has ordered a joint team to inquire into the matter and give their opinion in about 18 weeks time. The court has also asked the Central Government to give its opinion on endosulfan ban within 8 weeks. The reports and the final judgment are expected shortly.

Opinion of all the States on Endosulfan : Probably in the light of the court's order the center called for a meeting of state representatives of all the states on 4-6-2011 to ascertain the opinion of the states to form the Center's opinion. The ban on all India level was raised only by Kerala. Very recently Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka supported Kerala demanding all India ban of endosulfan. However, it is worth noting that the only other state ruled by the same group as was ruling Kerala during the ban demand, the West Bengal, has not come out at any time for the ban. But in the yesterday's meeting, all the states except only of Kerala felt that there is no need for banning endosulfan. In fact the states informed that endosulfan is comparatively cheap, very effective for a number of pests and insects. They felt that the substitution is a complicated one with mixing of 3-4 items to be effective and the cost is much higher than endosulfan. .

The Glaring facts: However one point is glaring. There is no doubt about the suffering of large number of people in a particular locality of Kasargod district have died due to serious illnesses and many more are suffering very much in health including that of mental health. But in other places of Kasargod and other districts of Kerala there was no problem reported. Similarly, endosulfan is used throughout India except in Kerala where it is banned, but no other state has complained of any health problem.
There is the fact that about 81 countries have banned endosulfan from use in their countries. Now the U S A is also likely to join this group shortly. This is definitely serious because, if the counties have decided on the basis of the problems of their countries it will be a huge collective experience. However, a very large portion of this group is from Europe. The endosulfan is manufactured in Europe and under the European Company's license or partnership.
There is also feeling in some quarters that the new proposed substitute for Endosulfan is also manufactured by the same European Company. They had been spearheading the movement to ease out the Endosulfan in Europe and other places. According to this particular group, this movement is a commercial one as the price of the substitute is much higher than endosulfan and they get big margin of profit from the substitute. This view is reported to have been supported by the farmers' organisations of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, two of the major bulk users of endosulfan.

Opinion on effects of Endosulfan among states: As explained earlier, various organisations/institutions have investigated into the problem of Kasargod, supposed to have been created by endosulfan. The words 'supposed to have been', is used for the fact that there is no complaint from any of the states as to the serious adverse effects of the Endosulfan. For some time since recently, only Karnataka, Orissa and Madhyapradesh agreed with the contention of Kerala that the pesticide/insecticide is harmful and should be banned from the country. Now in the meeting of representative all the states held, except for Kerala, no other state wanted the ban of Endosulfan. Even those who were with Kerala for some time changed their stand. The earlier Government was on the verge of completing their term and was to go to election, probably took any issue which came across it to show the opposition which is the ruling combine at center is not concerned with people's problem. The then opposition, the present ruling group also jumped into the band wagon so that they are not misunderstood by the people of Kerala. Both the sides did not seriously try to find out the real problem and the cause to take care of it. The earlier government announced some meager relief and partially implemented the same and the present government has taken decision to give substantive package for the affected.

The Need of the Time: From the available literature on Endosulfan effects no information is available as to the fact that why it is only the people of a particular locality is affected seriously by endosulfan and why there is no complaint from other places? Was there or is there still any peculiar factor which is contributing to the miseries of the locality in Kasargod? From going through the volumes of reports and statements the impression is that in the particular locality endosulfan is used by spraying with the help of helicopter. If no other special feature is found in the locality, is this factor responsible for the agony? Let us hope the new UDF Government will take some interest to find out the truth. The truth will help to determine whether endosulfan is the real culprit, or some other local factor or the aerial spray method is the villain of the episode. This will help the genuinely suffering locality, the state and the whole country to decide about the method of application or the endosulfan itself especially when the substitute is costlier and involve foreign exchange drain as it has to be brought from Europe.