NHRC to raise issue of harmful effect of pesticide in Kerala (Lead, Changing dateline)
December 18th, 2010 - 7:10 pm ICT by IANSKasargode (Kerala), Dec 18 (IANS) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chief K.G. Balakrishnan Saturday said that he will take up with the central government the seriousness of the impact of the use of pesticide endosulfan in Kerala villages.”The matter is serious and would be brought to the attention of the centre. Just like the way in which the centre took up the issue of the cause of Bhopal victims, they will have to look into the problems of those who have been affected by the use of endosulfan,” said Balakrishnan.
He said this after meeting the victims who have been suffering on account of the use of endosulfan here.
The pesticide is blamed for cases of children born with neurobehavioral disorders, congenital malformations and other abnormalities.
The use of endosulfan at the estates of state-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) in Kasargode district began in the early 1970s and continued till 2001.
About 500 deaths since 1995 have been officially acknowledged as related to the spraying of endosulfan in about 11 villages. Unofficial estimates put the deaths since the late 1970s at around 4,000.
“There is a case here for setting up of specialty hospitals to treat the victims. Instead of playing the blame game, political parties here should work together for the victims. A special package has to be there for children who have become victims,” said Balakrishnan.
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- Kerala to mark April 25 as anti-endosulphan day - Apr 20, 2011
- Kerala cancels licence to endosulfan factory - May 27, 2011
- Achuthanandan stages fast for ban on toxic pesticide - Apr 25, 2011
- Kerala's Left Front calls shutdown for endosulphan ban - Apr 26, 2011
- Supreme Court moved on endosulfan ban - Apr 26, 2011
- NHRC slams government for opposing ban on endosulfan - Dec 31, 2010
- Endosulfan ban: Supreme Court issues notice (Lead) - May 02, 2011
- Kerala observes shutdown to demand endosulfan ban (Lead) - Apr 29, 2011
- Achuthanandan flays central minister over pesticide - Oct 26, 2010
- Many in Kerala still drink water containing endosulphan - Nov 12, 2010
- Shutdown hits life in Kerala - Apr 29, 2011
- Sushma Swaraj backs endosulfan ban - Apr 28, 2011
Tags: 1970s, blame game, central government, congenital malformations, deaths, endosulfan, hospitals, human rights commission, k g balakrishnan, national human rights, national human rights commission, neurobehavioral disorders, nhrc, pck, pesticide, political parties, seriousness, unofficial estimates