Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Apr 25: The Anti Endosulfan Agitation has gained a decisive thrust now. Kerala government has declared observation of Anti Endosulfan Day on Monday April 25. Kerala Chief Minister (CM), V S Achutanandan, has declared that he will be observing fast from 10 am to 5 pm today near the memorial for martyrs built at Palayam in Thiruvananthapuram, in support of the state’s demand for the union government to exert pressure on the participating nations to enforce a blanket ban on this insecticide, at the Stockholm Convention Meet being held at Geneva from April 25 to 29.

The state government is spearheading a campaign to ban endosulfan, which reportedly has claimed hundreds of lives and turned the lives of scores of others into pathetic existence through physical and mental deformities, diseases, and other ailments. The government claims that the drug, sprayed to cashew plantations through helicopters for two decades, had left behind a trail of devastation in the lives of the people residing in or near these plantations. While the state has been claiming that this fact has been scientifically proved, the union government and the company producing endosulfan have been claiming otherwise.

MP, P Karunakaran, is scheduled o flag off a rally beginning at the government guest house in Pilikunje today in this connection. The rally will culminate at the new bus stand, where a public meeting, to be inaugurated by health minister, P K Srimati Teacher, will be organized. MLA, C T Ahmedali, will preside. A release by the district committee of All India Lawyers’ Union said that the lawyers in the district will be wearing black badges while on duty today, to pledge solidarity to the anti endosulfan campaign.