ENDOSULFAN, THE POISONING OF SOUTH INDIA
Endosulfan, once famed for its capacity to hugely increase agricultural productivity, has been banned in the state of Kerala (India) for 10 years, where a contamination of the soil, water sources, wildlife and the communities of the Kasaragod district occurred as a result of indiscriminate aerial spraying of the pesticide over a span of 25 years.
People neighbouring or living within the cashew plantations, which are predominantly owned by the national government, continue to suffer the consequences of what became an economically prosperous industry; feeding the taste of western palates and supermarket prices.
While 173 represented countries agreed on a worldwide ban at the Stockholm Convention (POP) last month, India (the worst known example of Endosulfan poisoning on a mass scale) stood alone in contesting the unanimous consensus. Facing huge financial loses as its agricultural industry heavily relies on Endosulfan, India negotiated an 11 year phase out period; giving Scientists time to develop a cost effective, alternative pest control.
Furthermore, manufacturing of Endosulfan in India has come to a halt. Chief Justice Sarosh Homi Kapadia of the Supreme Court has imposed an 8 week temporary ban, demanding an expert committee hand in a conclusive study that Endosulfan is not hazardous. Endosulfan manufactured in India contributes to 70 percent of the global market, with its total exports valued at about Rs.180 crore (£24,522,000).
Meanwhile, Kerala is leading the political front for a total national ban in the wake of a correlation with adverse health reactions, including congenital malformations, mental retardation, reproductive disorders, infertility, cancer and neurological disorders which has plagued the Kasaragod district communities.
In an attempt to calm growing pressure, a 5 crore compensation package has been offered by the Plantation Corporation to be distributed in schemes. Many fear the money will disappear in bureaucratic corruption. Benefit cards are being registered; Class A victims expecting to receive Rs.2,000 monthly pensions (equivalent to £27); an amount barely enough to cover medical expenses.
The extent of negligence from the Plantation Corporation is not clear, with countless stories of intimidation by officials towards activists that supported the ban in Kerala, to illegal dumping in the Kasaragod district of excessive Endosulfan stock after the state ban was imposed.
The current national Agricultural minister, Sharad Pawar recently claimed Endosulfan has not been proven to have negative impact on humans and denied anti-endosulfan voices from any state governments other than Kerala and Karnatak. Kerala was the only state where Endosulfan was aerially sprayed, but the impact was not scientifically investigated at the time.
Since the Green Revolution in India, international comparisons reveal the average yield in India is generally 30% to 50% of the highest average yield in the world and ranks second worldwide in farm output. Almost 30% of its booming economy comes from agriculture.
While the question of evidence remains, blocking a total ban, the communities of Kasaragod live on in suffering, hoping a total ban will be imposed to prevent further destruction of human lives.