Comments
Pressing for a nationwide ban on Endosulfan and India advocating against the chemical’s use at a Geneva convention, the Kerala Chief Minister, Mr V S Achuthanandan will lead a day-long sit-in here tomorrow.
The protest, to be staged at the Martyrs’ Column in the city from 10 am to 5 pm, will demand that India advocate a global ban on Endosulfan at the international convention on pollutants beginning in Geneva tomorrow.
Rights activists, elected representatives, cultural leaders, politicians and victims will participate in the protest.
Endosulfan has been banned in Kerala in view of the ill-effects of its use in parts of the state, including nearly 400 human deaths and chronic health problems and stunting growth of hundreds of people, many of them children.
The state has been pressing for a countrywide ban on the pesticide. Though an all-party team from Kerala recently met the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, no firm assurance could be obtained on banning the pesticide.
The state also wants the Centre to support the relief and rehabilitation package for the victims of Endosulfan, most of whom live in the northern district Kasargode.
Though Congress had extended its support to the demand for ban on the pesticide, the party has accused the ruling LDF of politicising the issue by seizing it as a weapon to attack the UPA Government at the Centre.
Comments
COMMENT NOW
Comments
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.