MANGALORE unit of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) and Saavayava Krishi Parivara (SKP) jointly staged a protest demanding immediate ban on Endosulfan pesticide on May 17. Addressing the protesters, Shri BK Ramesh of Saavayava Krishi Parivara said their demands include forming a special squad to ensure not to introduce Endosulfan in the market using alternative names, quick provision of compensation for all Endosulfan-affected victims, conducting scanning for pregnant women at government hospitals to check the spread of ill-effects of Endosulfan to next generation, creating awareness about the ill effects of Endosulfan through media such as TV, newspapers, hoardings, etc and recognising organic farmers by rewarding them for not using pesticides while growing crops. In case their voice goes unheard, the protest will be intensified by projecting the damages of Endosulfan in every taluk, he added. He also said, “India stands second in the production of Endosulfan with 150 lakh litre every year and has resulted in serious health hazards.
Bharatiya Kisan Sangh leader Shri Puttaswamy, Shri CH Narayan Bhat, district president of Kisan Sangh Shri Praveen and Raghuram Bhat were also present on the occasion. A memorandum was also submitted to Prime Minister and President of India through DC.
