They are around 20 years old, but they look like five-year-old toddlers.

There are others who were born healthy, but later were afflicted with an unknown disease which prevented them from going to school. This is the harsh reality in many parts of Kasargod, Uttar and Dakshin Kannada.

The visuals of these victims of Endosulfan, depicting the pain in their eyes, is bound to draw every Bengalurean’s attention to the raging debate over the urgent need for a ban on the deadly pesticide.

A photo exhibition on the consequences of Endosulfan by noted photographer Madhuraj, depicts photographs of a baby born without eyes and devoid of an anal opening, lying on his mother’s lap.

Then there’s the picture of Kavya, a child who suffered a strange problem of not being able to pull in her tongue. She finally died due to this condition in December 2010.

The photographer’s stark and sympathetic depiction of the sad plight of victims of Endosulfan are moving and throw light on the dangers of this deadly pesticide, which is predominantly used in cashew plantations in Kasargod, Udupi and Bhatkal.

It seems to be ruining many lives in these regions. “More than 9,000 victims of Endosulfan have been identified in Kasargod district of Kerala alone, out of which 4,800 patients are bedridden,” said Jagadeesh, convenor, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).

He said that when 74 countries all over the world have already banned Endosulfan, the Indian government’s delay in implementing the ban could have fatal implications for many.

“This is a trans-generational pesticide, which even if banned now will make its impact felt for the next few generations. It is a deadly pesticide, there is no doubt of that. Even the origins of Endosulfan can be traced to World War II when it was used as a chemical to kill people,” said Jagadeesh.

He said that the interim ban decreed by the Supreme Court recently is appreciated, but they are demanding an immediate and complete ban as there are so many lives being lost due to this pesticide. Children on wheelchairs or crutches, kids suffering from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, poor vision and various kinds of physical deformities are common in the areas where the aerial pesticide is being used.

“There are more than 150 health studies published in internationally reputed medical journals which have scientifically proved that Endosulfan causes serious health problems. The survivors of Kasargod have already been victimized by 16 major studies and all of them have cited Endosulfan as a problem. So we strongly condemn the decision of the government to harass the victims of Endosulfan with one more study by ICMR, in order to find out whether Endosulfan is really dangerous or not. The number of years the study will take will only delay the justice for thousands of victims,” he added.

A protest and a convention on Endosulfan has been planned in the city on June 5, World Environment Day, demanding an immediate and complete ban on the pesticide with the participation of representatives of the movement in Kasargod and activists like Medha Patkar.

Source : Deccan Chronicle - www.deccanchronicle.com