Horror of Endosulfan kills three in Karnataka

 

This is where Endosulfan has left the farmers of Belthangady who used the deadly pesticide for agriculture purpose. Even the second generation is unable to walk or talk or even look after themselves.

 

Under such circumstances, a farmer’s family, including two Endosulfan victims, have committed suicide at Belthangady taluk in Karnataka on Thursday.

 

Three bodies were recovered from the well near the victims' house, and the body of the elder son was found few meters away from the well.

 

Both the sons of Babu Gowda (62) were victims of Endosulfan pesticide poisoning, which had led Babu Gowda and his wife Gangamma (53) into depression.

 

The Endosulfan victims Sadananda Gowda (33) and Nithyananda Gowda (30) were immobile and needed constant care.

 

Besides, the couple's third son Dayananda has gone missing.

 

The government has fixed a monthly pension for Endosulfan victims. In order to obtain that pension, Babu Gowda was running from pillar to post and continuously seeking help from the rehabilitation centre, but his pleas were completely ignored by the government. This negligence of the government also led them to commit suicide.

 

Last week too, Babu Gowda had consumed poison and had tried to commit suicide. He was admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru for two days and was discharged as he had recovered.

 

On Wednesday, during lunch, Nityananda left the house and told the family members that they will find him dead by tomorrow. The entire night the couple searched for him and finally they along with another son have allegedly committed suicide by jumping into the well. But before that, the three have consumed alcohol mixed with poison.

Dharmasthala police have registered a case in this regard.

 

First of all, how did the government allowed the use of Endosulfan for agricultural purpose? It could have banned the pesticide when many in Kerala were seen severely affected by it. However, comparatively, the number of people affected by Endosulfan is lesser than Kerala.

 

So it should not be a difficult task for the government to identify the few affected and provide them pension without needing the victims to run from post to pillar.

 

Around 2,639 Endosulfan victims are benefitted by the pension in Dakshina Kannada district. In 2014 the district administration detected 447 Endosulfan victims and announced pensions to all the 447 victims.

 

The government bodies should stop dilly-dallying in implementing the schemes in this regard and should see to it that the affected families get their pension and help with medical assistance without any hassles.

 

According to records, Endosulfan is one of the most toxic pesticides on the market. Responsible for many fatal pesticide poisoning incidents around the world, Endosulfan imitates or enhances the effect of estrogens. It can act as an endocrine disruptor, causing reproductive and developmental damage in both animals and humans.