Udupi: Adverse effects of Endosulfan found in Udupi and Uttara Kannada Districts

By Snehalatha,Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 17 Nov 2012: So far the people of Kasargod and Dakshina Kannada Districts were commonly believed to have been the worst victims of the use of Endosulfan. However, it is shocking to know that Endosulfan has been discretely used in Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts which is causing havoc with the health of the people exposed to Endosulfan in these districts. This information was given by Dr. Ravindranath Shanbhag, one of the members of the  Human Rights Foundation while delivering a lecture on the effects of Endosulfan.

 

Dr. Shanbagh said that as Endosulfan is being used as insecticide increasingly in agricultural sphere and by cashew growers in Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. As in other regions where it has been used, Endosulfan is bound to affect the inhabit5ants of these two districts.

 

 

Speaking further, Dr. Shanbhag said that as the adverse effects of Endosulfan are slow to manifest, it is important that  those people who are being exposed to this deadly chemical should be made aware of these effects and proper diagnosis and investigation should be carried out. It is important to identify the regions affected by the use of Endosulfan and precautionary steps should be undertaken to contain damage to the health of the people.

 

In a sarcastic tone Dr. Shanbagh said that in order to avoid the adverse effects of Endosulfan, young people in the regions where Endosulfan is being used should not get married. Even if they marry, they should see to it that they will not beget children.  If neither is possible then Dr. Shanbagh suggested the following precautions to be taken by the people as well as the government.

 

Women should undergo test within 14 weeks of pregnancy and if the fetus is affected by Endosulfan the fetus should be treated at the expense of the government; children already affected by Endosulfan should be treated  by the administration; a separate hospital should be established for the victims of Endosulfan; government should increase the compensation from 50, 000 rupees to reasonably higher amount; and the amount spent on treating the Endosulfan victims should be reimbursed by the Endosulfan manufacturers and the cashew plantation owners who use the chemical.