India using Banned Pesticides, Sanctioned by Government

Last updated on: August 10, 2011 at 1:14 am by Desh Kapoor

India using Banned Pesticides, Sanctioned by Government 2011-08-10T01:14:10-05:00 Desh Kapoor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

67 of the banned or restricted pesticides in other countries, are being used within India with the authorization of the Government. Most troublesome is the use of endosulfan widely in India.

The man behind these sanctions is a guy called CD Mayee. He is the Chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), was former co-chairman of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) and head of the agriculture ministry’s committee on endosulfan.

As per Wikipedia:

Endosulfan became a highly controversial agrichemical[1] due to its acute toxicity, potential for bioaccumulation, and role as an endocrine disruptor. Because of its threats to human health and the environment, a global ban on the manufacture and use of endosulfan was negotiated under the Stockholm Convention in April 2011

So, there is aglobal ban given the acute toxicity of the chemical. But our friend, Mayee found the studies in India not strong enough to recommend banning. Therefore, he recommended continued use of pesticides in India that are banned in other countries.

Given this, despite the world-wide ban for endosulfan being proposed, India is the world’s largest user of this chemical. Three of its companies produce majority of the country’s endosulfan volumes for local (4500 tonnes yearly) and outside consumption (4000 tonnes).

Excel Crop Care,
Hindustan Insecticides Ltd, and
Coromandal Fertilizers

So, when asked about the question directly in an interview – that he is bought by the pesticide industry, Mayee points to lack of any real estate in his name. We all know how that works out, don’t we? In any case, his answer specifically about the endosulfan decision is instructive:

Why did you ignore the health impact pointed out by the earliest report on endosulfan by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH)?

When I was commissioner of agriculture, the new minister wanted a report on the findings of the previous studies on endosulfan. These studies were not clear on the cause-and-effect relationship between the use of endosulfan and diseases in Padre. So my job was to study the three studies available then and give a report. I did not even go to Padre. Besides, there was a drawback in these studies. None of them sought to find out why the health impacts occurred only in Padre. I come from Maharashtra where endosulfan is used a lot. But no such impacts have been seen there. Environmentally, Padre was totally different. It was surrounded by hills and endosulfan was sprayed aerially. No one questioned the Kerala government for violating the norms that forbid aerial spraying. No one was punished.

Endosulfan is used all over the country without ill effects because regulations are followed and because it is the cheapest. All we said was that the ban be continued in Kerala but studies need to be done elsewhere. I banned 10 insecticides after this committee’s report. So how could I be an agent of the pesticide industry? Besides, I recommended a scientific study but is it my fault if this was never carried out?

How do you respond to the Stockholm Convention decision to put an end to the use of endosulfan across the world?

I would say that in India while endosulfan is phased out, we should put all our insecticides and pesticides under scrutiny and study their effects on health. (Emphasis added)

Using administrative and bureaucratic benchmarks / methods instead of scientific temperament to handle such a major health issue within India – which has been and will impact many thousands of people, such people merely look at their own interests. Given the potency of the poisonous chemicals and the abundant and reckless use of these chemicals, it is clear that there will be grave impact on people’s health. Worse, we don’t even know what or how much!

There are two ways to look at the health and substance banning question:

Ban only when the negative effect is established.
Ban until “no negative impact” is established.

Any society which goes by the first paradigm is setting itself for deep trouble! Because by the time the criteria to ban a substance would have been established, the damage would have been done.

Previous Post

August 10, 2011

Sikh-urity amidst London Riots

Next Post

August 10, 2011 बेकरार

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Aarti Achievement and Leadership AfPak Africa Annual and Year-end Asia Audio Australia Behavioural Sciences Bhagwad Gita Bhagwad Gita Blogging Blogs Business Business Intelligence Business Strategy Cannes Careers Chanakya China Conservation Corruption Creative Daily Links Desh Poems Development & Welfare Devotional Audio Devotional Songs Drama Earth Economics Education Entertainment Environment Europe Everyday Quotes Featured Articles Featured Songs Finance Flickr Pictures Food Geo-Political Global Warming Globalization Health & Medicine Hinduism Historic History Humour India Indian Culture Indian music Indian Weddings Israel Issues Legal Link Love Minorities Misc Motivation and Personal Development Movie Lists Movie Reviews Movies Mumbai terror attacks Natural Disasters Nature News Outsourcing Pakistan Parenting Personal Philosophy Poetry Politics Poverty Quotes Recipe Regular Blog Post Relationships Religion Religious/Spiritual Audio Sciences Showcase Slideshow South Asia Special Stories Spiritual Quotes Spirituality Sports Stories Strategy Technology Technology Terrorism Travel Uncategorized US Video Women Women_s Rights Worship Yoga

Select a Month December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 August 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who does the Bible say is Lord of the Sabbath?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jesus Moses Man Satan