Endosulfan pesticide victims: Different figures, Similar lies?

ENDOSULFAN VICTIMS : HOW MANY ARE THERE REALLY?

For quite some time, we have been reading some interestingly absurd stuff about the curious case of Endosulfan.  All the claims vested groups do not tally at all with the others.  The other surprise, there is no credible source mentioned for any of these figures. Neither is there any sort of proof, which states that Endosulfan is harmful and causes deformities.

Voice of Keralam, a seeker of underlying truth in the blinding noise, compares number of endosulfan victims as mentioned in the public domain. Following are actual reports of endosulfan victims as mentioned by various media reports and other sources. How can there be such a wide discrepancy in alleged number of endosulfan victims.  

Daily News & Analysis DNA:
Scammed in the name of economic growth and science
Thursday, December 23, 2010 

DNA reports endosulfan pesticide victims at 1000 death

Alleged Endosulfan pesticide victims:
•    1000 killed, 10000 suffering from deformities and disorders in Kerala
•    Source quoted in the story: None
•    Location:  Kerala

Economic Times
Kerala endosulfan victims allege 'state terrorism'
23 NOV, 2010 

ET story reports Endosulfan pesticide victims at 500 deaths

  Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:
•    500 Killed, 8000-9000 affected
•    Source quoted in the story: Anti-Endosulfan Committee, Kasargod, Kerala
•    Location: Kasargod, Kerala



The Hindu
2,836 Endosulfan victims identified
December 29, 2010

The Hindu reports endosulfan victims at 2836 affected

Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:

• 2,836 in 11 panchayats of Kasargod (does not comment on casualties or deformities)   
• Source quoted in the story: Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan in Kerala assembly
• Location: Kasargod, Kerala 

Pesticide Action Network (PANNA)
An International NGO, anti-pesticides, working in Kerala to help alleged endosulfan victims Another cluster of endosulfan-induced illness in India
Mon, 2011-01-03

PANNA reports endosulfan victims at 46
and hundreds more

 Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:

• 46 officially reported, but NGOs suspect there are hundreds more  
• 174 families affected as per researchers
• Source quoted in the story: researchers, official estimate, NGOs
• Location: Kasargod, Kerala

Business Standard
Endosulfan use continues as government fails to enforce ban
December 1, 2010

Business Standard story reports endosulfan victims
as 150 deaths

 Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:

• 150 deaths & 5000 people affected in Kasargod district, Kerala    
• 27 affected in Idduki district, Tamil Nadu  
• Source quoted in the story: Unofficial estimates
• Location: Kasargod, Kerala. Idduki district, Tamil Nadu  

  The Daily Pioneer:
Kerala package for Endosulfan victims
 January 07, 2011

The Daily Pioneer reports endosulfan pesticide
victims as 500 deaths

Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:

• 500 deaths
• 2836 affected  
• Source quoted in the story: Kerala government  
• Location: Kasargod, Kerala

 
 The Deccan Herald
Kerala Govt unveils relief package for endosulfan victims
November 23, 2010

The Deccan Herald reports endosulfan pesticide
victims as 486 deaths

Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:

• 486 deaths
• Source quoted in the story: Kerala Government 
• Location: Kasargod, Kerala

The Hindu
Compensation promised to Endosulfan victims
Wednesday, Nov 10, 2010

The Hindu reported endosulfan victims
as 300 in Nov 2010

Alleged endosulfan pesticide victims:

• 300 deaths, of which 176 were compensated
• Source quoted in the story: Kerala Government 
• Location: Kasargod, Kerala  

These findings lead us to ask only one question, what the actual number is of alleged “endosulfan pesticide victims” in Kasargod, Kerala. There seems to be some kind of confusion in the esteemed minds of leading   media houses on the factual numbers in this case.

Some may say, that as time has gone by, more victims have been identified or the government numbers are on the conservative side or higher side depending how you may choose to see it. But, here’s the real deal, the citizens of India deserve to know the truth. And truth cannot be based on hearsay, unofficial estimates, researchers, concerned NGOs, and the likes. Let the truth be told by scientific bodies and people who understand the implications of such an issue rather then every armchair critic looking to have a say, just for the sake of being heard.

The Indian citizen is vigilant and cognizant to the fact that he or she has been hoodwinked before by the same vested interests masquerading as “concerned parties” to promote their own agenda.

Let truth prevail! Satyameva Jayate!

Endosulfan not to be blamed for disease says Chittor, Kerala MLA , K Achutan

In this video, Honorable MLA, Mr. K Achutan corroborates Voice of Keralam in stating very openly that the reported victims in  Muthalamada district of Kerala, which have been raked up by the media, blaming Endosulfan for the diseases, deaths and deformities are in fact not true and cannot be trusted. Mr. Achutan also voices his concern that pictures and images featured by the media, of poor children, are not correct and are influencing people against Endosulfan. 





Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) K Achuthan, Chittor district, Kerala has stated that the diseases of the children of Muthalamada are thought not to be due to the use of endosulfan and added that much of it is media hype. In this interview he states that what the media is claiming as deaths and disease of victims cannot be attributed to Endosulfan and he will not support it. Endosulfan is being used for decades in India. By showing pictures and images of poor and helpless children which are widely used by the media, is actually influencing people. He also says that the there is a Christian missionary school nearby which has children with deformities, but it does not mean that they are also affected by Endosulfan.  It is a wrong claim by the media and he cannot support it. Mr. Achutan calls for a proper investigation into the matter. 

In our earlier posts, 'Endosulfan ban aimed to destroy India exports' and  'Vested interests demand Endosulfan ban' we had suspected that there is more to this issue than what meets the eye and what is reported in the media about 'Endosulfan victims' in Kerala. 

Is this India's famed fourth estate which is supposed to uphold the highest level of moral authority and ascribe to the highest level of objectivity before reporting on any issue?


After the expose of Nira Radia tapes and 2G telecom controversy, by OPEN Magazine, there seems to be no reason for the Indian polity to place their belief in the Mainstream Media. 

Endosulfan ban aimed to destroy India exports

In a story filed by United News India (UNI) today, December 23 2010, there is further corroboration of the fact that there are vested interests involved. Till now we have been wondering what could be the true motive to hoodwink the Indian public in spreading such mass hysteria and dogma that a molecule which has been in use for the last 50 years in the country has come under immense cross fire from all sections of the society.

The truth about Endosulfan backed by
scientific data must be revealed.

The true story and ulterior motive, as it always is, is money. European pesticide manufacturers in collusion with certain groups in European Union have taken this initiative with the agenda to dent India's chemical industry. The trade implications are tremendous, if seen in a global context.

European Union lobby groups involved
in calling for a ban on Endosulfan

...the European Union (EU) lobby wanted its elimination to destroy 70 per cent of the world exports of the product from India...arguments put forward by an international committee for imposing the ban was not based on scientific evidence, but by the brute display of voting power by the members...

Imagine, such an important decision for India, is proposed to be taken through a vote amongst members who do not even use, manufacture or are involved in the trade of Endosulfan rather than through consensus of all members. This is an example of economic imperialism agenda which western forces try to impose on the world. In a oligopoly, the new world order still reeks of a post World War hangover.

...on the basis of submissions made by EU, the Chemical Review Committee of Persistent Organic Pollutant had recommended Endosulfan for listing as a (POP) which is based on voting, rather than on scientific data...

In the time to come, we expect more on information on this front and we will ensure we seek the truth. We are sure anyone reading this blog post, if not convinced about the inherent duality of EU, is inspired enough to read both sides of the story.

ലോങ്ങ്‌ ലൈവ് കേരള!    

H./T: NewKerala.com : Ban on 'Endosulfan' aimed at destroying India's exports

Full text of the story:

Endosulfan ban aimed to destroy India exports 
New Delhi, Dec 22: The insecticide industry was today up in arms against banning of Endosulfan, an input used in agriculture production, saying the European Union (EU) lobby wanted its elimination to destroy 70 per cent of the world exports of the product from India.

The industry was of the view that arguments put forward by an international committee for imposing the ban was not based on scientific evidence, but by the brute display of voting power by the members.

The manufacturers, who came under one umbrella, dared the committee to bring forth scientific data, justifying its proposed ban.

They said that they would be willing to swallow the bullet if it was proved on the basis of imperical evidence that it causes dreaded diseases like cancer.

At a joint press conference here, representatives of Pesticides Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India (PMFAI), Endosulfan Manufacturers and Formulators Association (EMFA) and International Stewardship Centre (ISC), argued that the EU has alternate products which it can bring into use as an insectide, but India will be at complete loss if the ban is effected.

Talking to reporters here, ISC chairman R Hariharan said on the basis of submissions made by EU, the Chemical Review Committee of Persistent Organic Pollutant had recommended Endosulfan for listing as a (POP) which is based on voting, rather than on scientific data.

Several countries, including India and China have strongly opposed the decision which has been taken by voting, and favoured decision making by consensus.

Though the Stockholm Convention is yet to take a final decision on the recommendaton on Endosulfan in April 2011, Mr Hariharan said a number of countries announced a ban or a phase out of the product over a 3 to 5 year period.

''Based on these recommendations, over 60 countries have joined the EU call for a ban on endosulfan,'' the chairman said.

The 60 countries include 27 EU member states and 21 countries in Africa.

Strangely none of the independent regulatory actions in many of these countries have been based on incidences of adverse human health in any of these countries, he said.

He said the EU manfuacturers, which hold nearly 60 per cent of world's exports of chemicals, intends to maintain its control over chemicals which are the second largest traded merchandise in the world, next only to fuels.

India's share in the global Endosulfan market is over 70 per cent, Mr Hariharan said.

The European manufacturers, whose exports share of Endosulfan is declining, have decided to stop selling the product by the end of this year.

Speaking on the occasion, PMFAI president Pradip Dave said thousands of farmers using Endosulfan have not had any issues relating to human health.

Currently, the Indian market of Endosulfan is about 12 million litres annually valued at Rs 270 crore.

In India, there are three manufacturers of Endosulfan, including Hindustan Insecticides Ltd.

At present, the overall Indian agrochemical market stands at Rs 5,200 crore and Endosulfan Rs 300 crore.
--UNI

True victims of Endosulfan: Workers & Farmers of India

Workers rally in Bhavnagar opposes ban on Endosulfan

Video of Workers in Bhavnagar, Gujarat who held a rally to oppose the proposed ban on Endosulfan.

Workers employed in Endosulfan manufacturing plants in two states of India, Gujarat and Kerala, have opposed the suggested ban on Endosulfan in India. On November 17 2010, a delegation of senior Endosulfan workers led by Former President of BJP Gujarat unit and prominent BJP Leader Rajendra Rajendra Singh Rana and Mrs. Vibhavari Dave, local leader and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), from Bhavnagar, Gujarat submitted a memorandum to the district collector’s office in Bhavnagar to withdraw the NIOH report calling for ban of Endosulfan.

For more see India section on Endosulfan Wikipedia page [Endosulfan - Wikipedia page]

HIL workers at Kerala Endosulfan plant seek probe into NIOH study: Kochi, Kerala

HIL Endosulfan Workers Rally in Kochi, Kerala (representation)

Kochi, Kerala December 17, 2010:

Endosulfan was manufactured and used for more than 50 years across the world and continues to be in use in many countries without any ill effects to humans or environment. Endosulfan has proved to be harmless to beneficial insects and pollinating agents such as honey bees etc. It is among the top five insecticides in the world. In relation to Endosulfan's use inside India the workers argued that Endosulfan would have shown its harmful effects elsewhere in India as it is extensively used across the country on crops such as cotton, sugarcane, spices, vegetables, fruits, etc. Millions of Indian farmers have been using Endosulfan for over 35 years and continue to use it as it has been cost effective and safe.

Speaking during the dharna, one of the workers' representatives pointed out that Kerala had stopped use of Endosulfan in 2002 and it is strange that the harmful effects were brought to light only recently. Endosulfan was sprayed across 10000 acres of Cashew crops throughout Kerala, prior to the ban - had Endosulfan been the cause of physical problems inside Kasargod, the Kerala state should have witnessed similar cases elsewhere as well.

The workers' representatives added that studies conducted by Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad, Achuthan Commission, Kerala Agriculture University, IMA, Dubey Committee have concluded of no linkage between use of Endosulfan and the reports of health problems to the use of Endosulfan on the health problems reported at the Kasargod district of Kerala. All these studies have been conducted as recently as in the last eight years. It is their demand that, rather than ensuing a new study on the pesticide Endosulfan, it will be relevant to seek an independent investigation into the flaws observed in the study which was released by the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH).

The NIOH study was adopted by NGOs for propaganda against the generic pesticide Endosulfan since year 2002. To prove this point, the workers demanded that their blood samples be tested to validate against the published findings in NIOH report. The workers also made observations that the campaign against Endosulfan led by environmental NGOs like Thanal is suspect on their motives in the backdrop of studies conducted by other bodies. Based on unscientific approach, the demands made by local NGOs should not be taken into account for considering such a serious decision affecting our country's agriculture and food security.

There are over 6000 workers employed in the manufacturing of Endosulfan in various plants of India and 400 of these workers are employed in the HIL plant.

H/T Business Standard Story [Link]