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| Poisonous odour for Kasardog winds |
Reji Joseph
Kasargod, now known as the “Bhopal of Kerala” is precipitating
tragic scenes since the last 25 years.
It was the emission of 40 tons of Methyl Isocynide from Union Carbide factory at
Bhopal on 3rd December, 1984, that killed thousands of people in the vicinity of the
factory.
Since 1980 Endosulphan Insecticide is spreading death in Kasargod and Southern
Karnataka regions. While a foreign company is responssible for the Bhopal
tragedy, it is the State Government who is responsible for similar tragedies in
Kerala.
80,000 inhabitants residing in 11 panchayats,
Belloor Kumbadaje, Enmagage, Maliyar, Carasea,
Delambad, Ajanoor, Pulloor Periya,
Kayyurchimmani, Panathady, Kallar, which are fully
planted with cashew are now victims of
endosulphan insecticide.
P.V.Sudhirkumar, convenor of Endosulphan
phohibition committee and a teacher in
Puthanangadi Jama Athe High School, is fully aware
of the imminent danger that is going to grasp the
poison clad regions.
As per Government records only 135 persons have
died in the eleven panchayats in Kasargod, during
the last 10 years due to Endosulphan reaction, but
the version of local people is that over 850 persons
have died. Moreover the patients who fell ill due to
endosulphan poisoning and awaiting slow deaths
number over 40,000.
Scientific researches goes to show that the
poisonous effects of endosulphan would persist in
the regions for the coming 80 years in the
Valluvanadan regions, forecasting doom. Already
three generations of people have been affected.
Sudhirkumar tells that each and every family in the
11 panchayats will be able to narrate their tales of
woe and distress in tears, about premature deaths
that occurred in their families.
Narayanan Periya who is fully engaged in the struggle against endosulphan, since the last 25 years is
a witness to the maladies in his region. He tells that the hill lands are now graveyards.
From 1978 onwards, 4696 acre of cashew plantations belonging to Plantation Corporation were
being sprayed with endosulphan to protect cashew. Flowers from distinction by harmful insects.
From 1981 the insecticide was sprayed 2 or 3 times in an year using helicopters, under the direct
supervision of the Plantation Corporation.
Both at the flowering season and even before, the insecticide was being sprayed liberally, violating
the permissible units of its use. Dr.Y.S. Mohankumar found that the high incidence of fatal diseases
in the area was the outcome of the use of endosulphan. He noticed a short price in the number of
patients calling upon him in his private clinic and reason for that was nothing else, other than the ill
effects of endosulphan.
The conclusion, after investigations by “Thanal” an NGO in Trivandrum and the Centre for Science
and Environment, Delhi in Kasargod rural Villages on the matter was that endosulphan was present
in alarming quantities.
In 2001 the Natural Human Rights commission activities conducted a study through Natural
Institutions of occupational Health, Hyderabad on the hazards and it revealed that the application of
the insecticide was far beyond safe limits.
In 2002 Dr.P.K. Sivaraman, Additional Director of State Health Department as well as the Central
Insecticide Board of Regularisation Committee, conducted studies on the matter which confirmed the
dangers precipitated by the use of endosulphan, but their reports were not given due considerations
at all.
When deaths occurred in alarming numbers in Kasargod villages, casting distress and woe to the
people there, government issued orders prohibiting use of endosulphan in Kerala, through Mr.Rajiv
Sadanandan, Secretary to the Agricultural Department. It so happened that he was removed from
his post within six months. The use of e
ndosulphan was however revived shortly afterwards canceling the prohibitory order. Even though
there was since relapse in the matter due to the conduct of connected cases and struggles, the
insecticide had by that time deproved the lives and health of thousands of people in the area.
Eight Ministries and 12 Agricultural Ministers had ruled Kerala from 1970 onwards but they could not
succeed in he prohibition of endosulphan. Efforts of lobby of politicians and Government Officials for
redressal, were suppressed by the insecticide dealer companies, who gained upper hand.
After each rain, the molecules of endosuphan penetrated deep in the soil. Those who faced rain
experienced reeling of Heal and itching over their bodies. There are 50 schools with over 30000
students, in the area the face the hazards but there is no facility for free medical checkup by
Governments for these students. Daily attendance of students in schools declined by 20% due to
frequent illness. Swooning of students in school compounds was usual sight.
Jayakrishnan son of Krishnan as born peculiarly. His head was abnormally grown, but body was
shrunk. When born he could not cry like other normal babies. His hair turned grey within month
even as a child. There are several other children with premature grey hair in the area. The fate of
another child is that he was born with his urinary blader outside his body and the child casting him in
agony. Such deformations are prevalent in the village, which is a reflection of the ill effects of
endosulphan in children. There are a lot of children with various types of deformation, followed by
crippled growth and mental retardation. The ill effect of endosulphan when sprayed will last for up
to 800 days in the environment. It is proved by experiments that the poison can be retained in soil,
water and air up to 80 years.
The fact that endosulphan is a poisonous substance was hidden by the Agricultural Department from
the agricultural workers who mix it. Sivaraj, Nizamudeen and Madhuraj were disabled children who
could not utter even a word, since their birth. They often shiver and they could consume food in
liquid form only. Their limbs are withered ad treatment made was of no avail. They need help of
others so as to rise from their beds. Much money has been spent to save them even by raising funds,
by sale of their abodes.
Studies conducted abroad has confirmed that endosulphan is the killer of at least 5000 human lives in
the area. Dr.Ronald F. the Chief Executive of Medical Department of the Philipines University, who
conducted studies in this District discovered that endosulphan was present in ponds, soil and nature
as a hazard.
Most of the study reports of the State Government on the matter however were kept concealed.
Former Agiriuclture Minister K.R.Gouriamma gave an explanation in the State Assembly that these
diseases and deformities were the result of inter marriage between close relatives. But what
explanation would the Government give about those in other types of marriages, since 25 years past?
What the people of their regions drunk and eat is poison linked. All the crops raised in lands where
endosulphan is applied, also bear the poison. Meat, Fish and eggs carry this poison and transmit
diseases from generation to generation. It is for this reason that he cancer patient Ramanna in
Cheelani have forecasted bad repercussions and hard time in his future life. His wife died due to
blood cancer. His elder child had mental retardation. There is no means of income for treatment of
his second child. There are no relatives to help him.
MISERY THROUGHOUT LIFE
FOR THE HELPLESS
Suhail, son of Hadmid from Bovikanam Mutholapara has no power of
movement. If he has to see the outside world someone else should help him.
Sruthy, a Std.V student has twisted limbs, facing pain each day. Her mother
died due to cancer. Eventhough she is brought to school she remain silent in
the class, without any activity. Four or Five disabled little children are present
in each school of the 11 panchayats. They cannot even hold their text books in
their hands. For taking noon meal from school, they require help for others.
Few examples of such students are Shemir, Manikandan and Anandan of
Enmagage Village.
Ranjini, daughter of Ramesan, a worker in Bovikanam Millacherry estate,
eventhough 19 years old looks like a five year old girl. She is crippled and cannot move about. She
is confined in a room, counting days in utter distress. In the estates of Plantation Corporation at
Kasargod, 4696 Acre cashew estates was sprayed with endosulphan though helicopters since the
last 26 years. Even though people crowded before
helicopters out of curiosity, they did not realize the dangers
hidden in them, intended to kill them inch by inch.
Endosulphan from helicopters appeared on hillsides and
meadows like mist. Those who inhaled its vapour
developed vomiting. Some other fell flat by fainting. A lot
of fish and frogs in ponds perished. The next target was
cattle. Their progenies could not service and died
prematuring. After 2 or 3 years the poisonous effects of
endosulphan had its rampage over human beings also.
Giddiness, vomiting, fading eyesight and abortion were
the grave consequences. It was a usual sight to see
children surrounding in school at Emmagaje, Swarga,
Athoor, Mulleria, Peria, Kayyoor, Pilloor and Karaska
villages. After the lapses of 5 years, cancer, tuberculosis,
fainting, mental retardatives, etc. and made their
appearance in colonies as a usual incident.
Those returning disappointed from Government hospitals
without any treatment or medicines from them, had to
confined as patients at their homes for months and finally
died vomiting blood. Birth of skill born babies was too
common. Those dear children playing around, fall dead.
The authorities did not care to hear their cries. There was
none to lead the afflicted. The Government Officials who
accepted commission from endosuphan company in lakhs
cleverly kept silent. Every lawn in houses there
became grave yards and plants there and
withered without flavouring.
Nothing was spared from the contact of poisons in
the hillands. The poison permuted not only in
water and air but also in Rice, fruits and
vegetables. Coconuts branches got crippled
poison and trees did not flower at its due time.
Everywhere there is poison, in rain, snow and
wind.
Whoever eats fruits develop vomiting, reeling of
head and dysentery. Children show anemic
symptoms. Cattle face sudden death. Women
develop bleeding and premature termination of
menses. Woman give premature birth to children
by the 4th month of the pregnancy. New born
children have all sorts of ailments. The Eastern
regions of Kasargod District are ghost lands
indicating unexpected deaths in each colony and
village. In the absence of diagnosis of diseases by
Government hospitals, people name each disease according to their fancies. But all those diseases
are repercussions of the insecticide endosulphan in environment.
Hundreds of children who are born face mental retardation and the process centuries. Those
children who are unable to move or make sounds are a permanent headache to parents and they can
only shed tears. Epilepsy has its grip on many inhabitants of 9 panchayats and they fall flat to the
ground struggling up to four times in a single day.
Each house has a specimen of ill growth, with large head and crippled body, to display. There are
many who eventhough 25 years old has growth of five year old child only. There are small headed
persons with bulky bodies here and there. Many children have distorted limbs before they complete
an year after birth. Grave defects in organs like ear, eyes and skin are so common. The fate of these
poor people is distressing.
To increase crop yield of cashew, every year endosulphan is spared through helicopters which circle
over the hillands. The helicopter engine sound was a signal of misfortune to followed in the villages.
The poor agricultural workers and agriculturists were in capacitated to prevent the helicopters from
performing the harmful spraying.
When the inhabitants of the affected areas filed complaints before the Agricultural Department, it
was not considered properly. They viewed the petitioners derisions and contempt. The arrogant
officials challenged the poor villagers to prove to them that maladies are due to use of endosulphan.
None of the corpses of persons dying in hazards were subjected to postmortem examination to
determine the actual cause of their deaths. So the poor villagers could not substantiate their
pleadings. Why should a patient who lived for 10 or 20 years in solitude, be subjected to postmortem
is the question raised by authorities.
The commission being derived by officials through unrestricted purchase of endosulphan, runs to
several lakhs. Their stand is that the insecticide is not the real cause of diseases and deformities in
the area, but genetic disorders only.
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