There is increasing evidence that the pesticide fueled agricultural growth has had a serious impact on the health of the farmers, especially the incidence of cancer, the Government is taking action by starting a program for registering cancer patients. Several studies have shown the damage to the DNA caused by exposure to pesticides. Bathinda district seems to be the worst affected. Bathinda, the worst affected district, is a major cotton growing area and the cotton crop requires heavy pesticide use.
The studies that point to this include:
A 2005 study by the Center for Science and Environment, a well reputed Delhi-based environment advocacy group, found high levels of pesticides in the blood samples taken from farmers' from villages Bathinda and Muktsar districts.
A study titled "Assessment of genetic damage in workers occupationally exposed to pesticides in various districts of Punjab' conducted by Punjabi University, Patiala, points to the high rate of DNA damage among farmers due to pesticide use.
This study was conducted by Raminderjeet Kaur of the Department of Human Biology under the guidance of Prof. Satbir Kaur. The study found significant DNA damage in the blood samples of 36 % of farmers tested. In addition to cotton, farmers growing paddy and wheat were also badly affected. According to Prof Satbir Kaur, "Pesticides cause damage to the DNA and eventually its fragmentation. This increases the chances of cancer and chromosome mutation.' "Banned pesticides are also in use and the worst affected were those who used herbicides and organophosphates,' Satbir Kaur added. (Incidentally, organophosphates are supposedly the new generation safe chemicals).
According to another study, funded by the Government and conducted by a committee headed by J S Bajaj, vice-chairperson of the Punjab State Planning Board found that heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers had contaminated the drinking water with pesticides and heavy metals. It also found that that drinking water was one of the major causes of death in Punjab. The study was conducted in 17 villages in south-west Punjab's Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa and Muktsar districts, all of them in the cotton-growing belt known for high pesticide use with Bathinda and Muktsar being the worst affected. According to the study, contaminated water had led to a rise in the cases of cancer, asthma, joint pain, premature graying of hair, skin diseases and mental impairment.
In acknowledgment of the above, the Government has started a cancer registration program, initially starting with Muktsar district.
4 comments:
This is a serious development but at the ground level nothing is being done to (a) check it and (b) spread awareness among the people. The Punjab Government is in a limbo and seems to be unaware of the difference between development and governance. Since a few State Governments were re-elected on the development plank, the Akalis harp on nothing else but development -- megacity, aerocity, airports, etc. While development is essential, this Government has forgotten how to govern. Hence, existing schemes and projects lie forgotten. The day to day life of the Punjabis is of the least concern to the babus as well as the politicians. Research findings gather dust.
Even if the government was seriously interested in development, this should be a red flag to them. Development has to be within the principles of sustainability and should come at the expense of people's lives. In my view, awareness among the population at large is missing. Those who know better or should know better are also trying to use the systems for their own advantage rather than play a constructive watch-dog role.
Young people have no role models to emulate - it almost seems that serious subjects put Punjabis off - the only revitalizing factor is music and Bhangra! A dilemma: How to get young Punjabis motivated enough to take up constructive causes? Or at the very least be concenred and interested in serious and important issues. After life is not all Balle Balle
How the Punjab Government handles serious situations is evident from the Times of India article below:
Uranium all over, health dept limits probe to centre
FARIDKOT: In the midst of a fear gripping Punjab after high concentrations of uranium were detected in drinking water, the state health department has reacted by directing its probe at the centre whose kids are the worst affected. This comes days after Germany’s Microtrace Mineral Lab had found abnormally high presence of the radioactive element in hair samples of 80% of 149 neurologically disabled children at the Baba Farid Centre here.
Instead of investigating the cause of toxicity, the department has chosen to make inquiries about the organisation taking care of the special children. The probe team formed by the government is yet to collect samples of water, soil, vegetation or hair of patients to verify the authenticity of Germany’s laboratory report.
Officials have directed the centre to submit details of its income, expenditure, approval certificate to run the institute, children treated, names and details of doctors working there and proof that kids have been affected by uranium.
The five-member team, which includes a tehsildar, epidemiologist, TB officer, psychiatrist and school health officer, has sought the details within a week’s time. “God knows how knowledge of our income will serve any purpose,” said Pritpal Singh, incharge of the centre.
“Instead of trying to go into the depth of the problem, the team is engaged in a useless pursuit,” claimed Carin Smit, a UK-based clinical toxicologist, who had first highlighted the issue during a visit to the centre last year.
Epidemologist Manjit Krishan Bhalla, the team in charge, said he was investigating the matter according to the directions of higher authorities. When asked whether their queries on the funding of centre were in anyway related to the presence of uranium in the hair of kids, he replied that as far as he knew uranium could not have any ill-effects on human health. “After checking the authenticity of the centre, we will make further investigations,” he said.
Harjit Singh Bhalla, civil surgeon, Faridkot, claimed, “I joined (office at Faridkot) some days back only and don’t know much about the problem and its origin.”
Milk, water and now even bananas.
A report from Indian Xxpress:
The Punjab Mandi Board has written to the health director and the deputy commissioner of Ludhiana to raid all such places in the city where bananas are ripened with the help of calcium carbide.
Talking to The Indian Express, Mandi Board Secretary Dr Karamjit Singh Sra said the board had offered to raid the godowns where the practice was carried out. “This is a carcinogenic chemical which is extremely hazardous to health.
Its rampant use must be stopped. Globally, banana ripening is done through ethylene generator systems, which is a natural ripening agent for fruits. Banana traders in the state must switch to the use of ethylene,” he said.
Though the chemical had been found to be used in certain other varieties of fruits too, the board is concentrating on bananas at the moment as this is the most consumed fruit in the country and the state, besides being an all-weather fruit.eom
I don't think Punjab will be able to tackle such health-related issues as it lacks the will to do so -- what with elections about two years away. Officials are hand-in-glove with the culprits.
Post a Comment