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In Context
- The Supreme Court directed the Kasargod District Legal Services Authority in Kerala to inspect the medical and palliative care facilities provided to endosulfan victims.
About
- Numerous complaints have been filed regarding the Kerala state government’s failure to offer adequate health care infrastructure to Endosulfan victims.
- The State government claims that 98% (over 3700 people) of the victims have received ?5 lakh compensation as per the apex court’s 2017 judgment.
- The Kerala government also argued that it has provided victims with access to the required medical facilities.
Endosulfan
- About:
- Endosulfan is a pesticide. It is a cream- to brown-coloured solid that may appear in the form of crystals or flakes.
- It smells like turpentine but does not burn.
- It does not occur naturally in the environment
- It is sold as a mixture of two different forms of the same chemical (referred to as α- and β-endosulfan).
- Uses:
- It is used to control insects on food and non-food crops and also as a wood preservative
- Endosulfan can be released into the air, water, and soil in areas where it is applied as a pesticide.
- Health effects:
- The health effects of the chemical include neurotoxicity, late sexual maturity, physical deformities, poisoning, among others.
- People, especially newborns, have suffered deformities, health complications and loss of family members due to exposure to agrochemicals.
- Ban in India:
- Endosulfan pesticide was used widely on crops like cashew, cotton, tea, paddy, fruits and others until 2011 when the Supreme Court banned its production and distribution.
- Other initiatives:
- In 2012, when there was the threat of endosulfan leaks from old godowns, they were transferred to new godowns through a scheme called Operation Blossom Spring.
- It aims to restore organic farming practices back in the district and preserve the ecological balance.
- In 2012, when there was the threat of endosulfan leaks from old godowns, they were transferred to new godowns through a scheme called Operation Blossom Spring.
Source: TH
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