NHRC asks for action taken report from the Centre and Kerala Government on its recommendation on Endosulfan
Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, asked the Government of Kerala and the concerned Union Ministries to submit a detailed action taken report on the recommendations of the Commission pertaining to the treatment and rehabilitation of victims of pesticide Endosulfan in Kasaragod district of Kerala. He was presiding over a meeting of the senior officers of the Centre and the State Government convened by the Commission in New Delhi on the 18th February, 2011 to know the steps being taken by all the stakeholders in this regard. Members and senior officers of the Commission were also present in the meeting. Several issues were discussed relating to Endosulfan and its effects.
Dr. P. Prabakaran, Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala said that long term aerial spraying of pesticide Endosulfan for 20 years and slope of hills have led to contamination of water bodies in Kasaragod. Physiography of the area has also contributed in spreading the effect of Endosulfan. He informed that around 5000 people in 11 panchayats of Kasaragod district are affected due to Endosulfan. He said that the recommendations of the Commission in providing succour to the affected people are acceptable to the State Government.
The State Government reclassified the affected population in November, 2010 on the basis of their disability. As per this classification, there are about 500 persons who are seriously immobilized; around 2000 require some support for their movement and around 3000 people have minor problems. There are also around 1000 reported cases of mentally retarded persons.
Mr. L.C. Goel, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said that the Centre is ready to help the State Government in this regard on receiving a proposal.
Mr. Prabeer Kumar Basu, Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Centre is ready to help the State Government with a scheme of developing changed cultivation practices without using pesticide in Kasaragod district. He informed that a special advertisement campaign is also being planned in this regard.
Dr. V.M. Katoch, Secretary, ICMR, said that an epidemiological study is on and a committee has been constituted for this purpose to understand the effects of Endosulfan. He also mentioned that the ICMR will constitute a committee to look into five other states namely, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Karnataka to study the effects of Endosulfan.
Mr. Srinivas, Secretary, Health, Government of Kerala and Mr. Rajiv Gauba, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forest were also present in the meeting.
Prior to this, the Commission had held separate meetings with the Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture on the issue of Endosulfan.
Dr. P. Prabakaran, Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala said that long term aerial spraying of pesticide Endosulfan for 20 years and slope of hills have led to contamination of water bodies in Kasaragod. Physiography of the area has also contributed in spreading the effect of Endosulfan. He informed that around 5000 people in 11 panchayats of Kasaragod district are affected due to Endosulfan. He said that the recommendations of the Commission in providing succour to the affected people are acceptable to the State Government.
The State Government reclassified the affected population in November, 2010 on the basis of their disability. As per this classification, there are about 500 persons who are seriously immobilized; around 2000 require some support for their movement and around 3000 people have minor problems. There are also around 1000 reported cases of mentally retarded persons.
Mr. L.C. Goel, Additional Secretary, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare said that the Centre is ready to help the State Government in this regard on receiving a proposal.
Mr. Prabeer Kumar Basu, Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Centre is ready to help the State Government with a scheme of developing changed cultivation practices without using pesticide in Kasaragod district. He informed that a special advertisement campaign is also being planned in this regard.
Dr. V.M. Katoch, Secretary, ICMR, said that an epidemiological study is on and a committee has been constituted for this purpose to understand the effects of Endosulfan. He also mentioned that the ICMR will constitute a committee to look into five other states namely, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Karnataka to study the effects of Endosulfan.
Mr. Srinivas, Secretary, Health, Government of Kerala and Mr. Rajiv Gauba, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forest were also present in the meeting.
Prior to this, the Commission had held separate meetings with the Secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, Secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Secretary, Union Ministry of Agriculture on the issue of Endosulfan.