Famine, Food Security - Need for rethinking

It has been reported in the news papers all over the world that there is famine in east Africa and over 12 million people are displaced and need food aid (Guardian UK news article below). We have heard it all before and hunger and famine in Africa is so common in our minds that we almost have become desensitized to it. UN and FAO send out a press releases and various governments respond with token gestures of food aid and then every thing gets forgotten. Some governments even fudge the statistics by lowering the calorific value and pretend that they are doing such a good job in removing poverty. However, if you look at the FAO map below you will see that malnutrition and hunger has not come down much at all in any significant manner.

Is the main cause lack of food production alone? If one looks at the food production of main commodities of maize rice and wheat then one know that the production is increasing in the world. 

Despite the production of grains in the world famine and hunger are increasing. Question is why? 

The map below is the corruption map from Transparency International (http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/in_detail) which tracks the corruption among countries of the world. If one overlaps the hunger map with the corruption map then the answer is very evident. Despite UN and everyone one saying that this hunger is due to prolonged droughts and displacement, I believe that this hunger is due to corruption in these countries. For eg., in Somalia where there is over 40% malnutrition, if corruption ranking is looked at then it has a ranking of 1.4 which is the lowest ie one of the most corrupt countries. Australia also had prolonged drought spanning over 8 years however people did not suffer from malnutrition due to lack of food or lack of access to food. 

It is time public forced these countries and organizations in such as UN and FAO to rethink their hunger strategy rather than constantly asking countries where farmers work hard to produce food and people work hard to maintain a civil society with out wars and gun running. It is high time displacement due to war and famine get a second look. It is estimated that there are over 23 million refugees in various camps and many more displaced due to various reasons. Refugee resettlement policy was developed predominantly during World War II. However, this policy may not apply in the world of today where national security, bio security are also added to food security concerns. 

It is high time that aid providing countries stopped aid to governments of countries which are highly corrupt and stopped bailing them out every time with debt wipeouts and reduction in payments and so on. Refugees from these countries need to be settled in the refugee camps by developing alternative temporary cities and alternative temporary training, education and employment capability. World has a massive skills shortage. So why not set up training camps in these refugee camps so that the refugees or displaced people who are languishing there are atleast trained in a skill. This will also prevent hopelessness setting among these people leading to better opportunities for proper resettlement. 

Instead of just throwing in bags of food grains why not develop kitchen gardens in these camps so that people grow some food for themselves and at the same time find some purpose while waiting for resettlement. Kitchen gardens can be developed by using polybags used for grain distribution and minimal water. I have grown potatoes chillies and onions in polybags with minimal water recycled after washing clothes.

There are refugee people who are waiting to be resettled for over 15 years in some camps and these people have developed mental health issues. Why not allow them to be trained in agriculture activities when that is most needed for food security. Developed countries need to stop this benevolent patronizing attitudes and start utilizing these refugees as trainees. Countries such as Australia take over 13,000 refugees officially per year. How would it be if these people were trained in the camps to do somethings where by when they come to Australia they are job ready with language skills and basic social skills and can fit into the society rather than find it difficult to readjust at the initial stages. Some civil libertarians may say this is slave labor etc. The question is it is more inhumane to treat these people as nonentities and expect them to languish in these camps with no hope of resettlement unless they hit the resettlement lottery called as UNHCR list. 

It is time to get real for both aid donor countries and developing countries. Countries like India need to be stopped from government control of food markets which is neither helping the poor nor helping the poverty reduction. India spends over 15,000 crore rupees( 100 crore rupees = 1 billion rupees) on its so called PDS which is the Public Distribution System. This has created a perception among the general population that many people are obtaining food at a very cheap rate. Majority of the people are not. Indian government is procuring large quantities of grain and virtually wasting it through mismanagement and corruption according to its own reports. Countries welfare bill is increasing at at time when growth is anywhere between 7-9%.

Developed nations such as US, UK and Australia which provide several strategic aid to India need to invest in food infrastructure in India such as locally tailored silo systems for large scale rodent and vermin proof storage, transport logistic system with data loggers at both upload and download sites to ensure minimization of pilfering, in distribution system credit cards which allow people to buy the same quality grain as everyone else but can get re-embursed the differential in the cost between the market rate and PDS set rate at the local post office through registration and mobile or real bank accounts. This will enable traders and re-sellers to look after the commodities better and not sell substandard product to the poor who are mainly the purchasers of the PDS grains. There should not be any specific PDS distribution shops which distort the markets.

Indian government should be forced to re-think and redevelop its strategy so that food is distributed as per market principles and the government can not be both a purchaser and a provider which puts retailers at a competitive disadvantage. Government should not be competing against the markets unless market failure (ie market does not provide the service) occurs. There are plenty of retailers in India so why not provide them the opportunity to sell it to PDS card carriers too. There are plenty of post offices in India in every nook and craney. Why not use them more effectively?

This is not rocket science. However new thinking is needed. New thinking will not occur when rest of the world enables these people by providing aid and bailing out the corrupt governments every time there is a problem. World can not keep supplying food to the poor countries nor can they just turn a blind eye to corruption and say people in the developed world will look after these poor people who have been denied access to food which is the right of everyone.    

At least in India there is new thinking being forced on the government though fight against corruption and mis management. I only hope this will lead to a positive change rather than fizzle out in someway as soon as food prices are brought down artificially by the government to whitewash the whole cause. It is high time causes of food insecurity are addressed along with addressing issues such as climate change and national security. Once again there will not be peace and national security till food security is addressed. People of India had the knowledge of the links among the elements of climate and this is clearly shown in the manthras of the YajurVeda.

Here is a very famous worship manthra in Indian Vedas from time immemorial . It reads as follows in translated in english. It is taken from Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda. It is said at the end of all worships to ensure the link between the water earth and solar systems are emphasized so that people respect the earth, water and the sun. Yajur Vedas consist of "manthras of actions" or "Karma =actions or deeds" to be done by people. It is clear that these people had the knowledge and respect for climate well before the current knowledge emerged.

 Manthrapushpam translated in english (http://www.scribd.com/doc/22698052/NARAYANA-SUKTHA-Mantrapushpam-Hymn)

He who understands the flowers of water, He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.

Moon is the flower of the water, He who understands this fact, He becomes the possessor of

flowers, children and cattle.

He who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself ( is centered, focused)

Fire is the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of fire, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself,

Air is the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of air, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself,

Scorching sun is the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of scorching sun, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself,

Moon is the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of moon, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself,

Stars are the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of stars, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water, Becomes established in himself,

Rainy season is the source of water, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of rainy season, He who knows this, Becomes established in himself.

He who knows that there is a raft is available, Becomes established in that raft.

King of kings, we praise thee, Who is the giver of all victories,

Who is the fulfiller of all desires,

Please bless me with wealth, To fulfill all our desires,

Oh, Kubhera*, we praise thee, Salutations to the king of kings.

Sanskrit original in Englsih (http://www.astrojyoti.com/mantrapushpam.htm)

Yopam puspam veda
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Candramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.
Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo gnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Candrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati
Rajadhi rajaya Prasahya Sahine|
Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.

Africa famine: soaring food prices intensifying crisis, report warns

World Bank says shortages and near-historic prices for staple crops have contributed to the crisis in the Horn of Africa

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• Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent

• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 16 August 2011 11.24 BST
• Article history

An Turkana woman sits in north-western Kenya. The price rises of food have been particularly severe in Africa. Photograph: Dai Kurokawa/EPA

A volatile global food supply is deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in the Horn of Africa, the World Bank warns in a new report.

Shortages and near-historic prices for staples such as corn, wheat and sugar have magnified the impact of the drought now ravaging the Horn of Africa, the Food Price Watch report said.

"While the emergency in the Horn of Africa was triggered by prolonged droughts, especially in areas struggling with conflict and internal displacement such as Somalia, food prices that are near the record high levels seen in 2008 also contributed to the situation," the bank said in a statement.

More than 12 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistancein the Horn of Africa, the report said. In some areas of Somalia, more than 40% of children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition.

The report also warned that production of biofuels – specifically America's production of corn ethanol – was contributing to rising food prices.

In global terms, food prices last month were on average 33% higher than a year ago, the report warned. Corn, or maize, has risen by 84%; sugar 62% and wheat 55%.

But the price rises were particularly severe in Africa. Corn prices doubled in Kampala, Mogadishu and Kigali over the last year, the report said.

Sorghum prices have increased more than fourfold, 240%, over last year in parts of Somalia, the report said.

It blamed the soaring prices on poor local harvests as well as shrinking global food stocks.

The report said corn stocks were at their lowest levels since the 1970s creating a situation in which "even small shortfalls in yields can have an amplified effects on prices", the report warned.

US production of corn ethanol – which the report said rose by 8% in the first three months of this year – was also eating into supplies.

"Another factor that adds to the potential upward pressure on the price of maize is the diversion into the production of biofuels," the report said.

Aid organisations have also connected rising food prices to the use of food crops for energy.

Some prices had fallen back slightly since last February, but the bank warned the volatility still left the most vulnerable populations, in the Horn of Africa, dangerously exposed.

"Persistently high food prices and low food stocks indicate that we're still in the danger zone," the bank's president, Robert Zoellick, said in a statement

Education- are Indian poor really getting help?

Indians have valued education since time immemorial. Today most poor know that education could be the way out of poverty. Government of India clearly brags that it has provided reservation and help for the poor  especially so called lower caste people to enable them to get an education. Indian government also brought out Right to Education law to enable all eligible children to get education as a right not as an optional extra. Although many poor can not afford to educate their children with the exorbitant cost of education, many poor are providing as much education as possible for their children. In a country where disability is not only a curse but a social and religious stigma, some parents even strive to provide education to their disabled children ( refer stories from Deccan Herald below).

However, the so called education system has failed majority of Indians utterly. This is statistically proven when Indian government statistics shows that only 11 percent of children below the age of 15 get any form of education. India has a population of 1.21 billion as per recent census. It is not a mean feat to educate a country with a population where 54% of the population is below the age of 30. Although average fertility rate is decreasing in India  unless urgent measures are taken to address the issue of education India despite its growth rate will not climb out of poverty anytime soon. It is projected that Indian population will increase and reach 1.7 billion by 2050. It is scary to think that Indian population will increase by another 200 million in the next 20 years. This will futher reduce access to education and access to services further.

Where is the hope? Indian government and media have to take urgent steps to enable poor merited students to get proper education. For every poor child that is educated there is an increase in income which helps the family and any siblings. This will help to reduce the poverty cycle at least to some extent. Despite government claims, its policies have clearly failed students shown below. It is high time public took the future of India by its horn and enabled the merited youth and children to get educated and not nip their talent and potential in the bud. Media has a role to play by setting up educational trusts and enable such merited kids to further their education. If Indians want to live peacefully and enable the society to have a harmonious existence all those who can afford to need to contribute to the education of these children and youth. Time for blame is over. It is high time Indians started to act.

Lip service is no longer enough.

Talent born in a mud hut

Mudalagi (Bijapur), May 11, DHNS:

Shivananda Shetty lives in a small mud hut that has no electricity. At night he studies with the help of an oil lamp.

His mother Chandravva uses firewood to cook food on a primitive earthen stove. The grinding poverty has not proved a constraint to Shivananda who has scored 98 per cent marks in PUC Science stream. The boy from Saidapura hamlet near Mudalagi in Bijapur district, who got 94.48 per cent in his SSLC, has surpassed himself in PU, scoring 99 in Physics and Maths, and 96 in Chemistry. Shivananda was an infant when his father Balappa deserted the family, never to return. Mother Chandravva worked as a labourer and brought up her son, who dreams of becoming an engineer and do his IAS. But the boy is in dire need of financial help. Those who wish to help him, can contact his teacher and guide, B H Haliyal on cell no. 9008477705. PU achievers: Poverty may topple topper's degree dreams C K Mahendra, Tumkur, May 11, DHNS From rural Karnataka, some stories of talent and courage trumping penury Shilpakla has secured the third rank in the arts stream of the II PU exam, but the outlook for her hopes of doing her BA and becoming an IAS officer appears bleak, as her family wants to marry her off. For her family that scrou­nged for money to finance her PU education, funding further education may be difficult. For Shilpakala, who will need Rs 30 a day to go to degree college in Tumkur, besides the fees, doing BA looks a distant dream. Early in her life, Shilpakala developed the trick of focusing in class. That helped her absorb all that her teachers had to offer in terms of guidance. She slept for just three hours at night between 1 am and 4 am, studying all the while. Her marks sheet speaks for itself, with a score of above 90 in all subjects and a total of 560 out of 600. With such enviable scores, she was on course for a repeat performance in her degree, but for the utter poverty back home, where two square meals is a luxury. A student of Basaveshwara Kendriya Samyukta PU College at Kolala in Urdigere hobli in Koratagere taluk, Shilpakala’s parents were bonded labourers even as recently as five years ago. Their meagre earnings as coolies sustain the family. The girl used to go on an empty stomach to college, six km from home. Her first meal of the day would be only after returning home in the afternoon. Shilpakala secured 86 per cent in her SSLC and wanted to join the science stream in PUC. But she had to be content joining the arts stream in the college, because she got free admission with a promise to subsidise her education. Shilpakala’s economics teacher, S Rajanna, helped the girl a great deal. Shilpakala says it will be difficult for her family to send her to college, as they were already supporting her brother’s course at an industrial training institute. For them, marrying her off is a better option as that would mean one mouth less to feed. It was, therefore, no surprise when the news of her stellar performance in class XII spurred her parents to draw up Shilpakala’s marriage plans, instead of asking her to buy the application form for the BA course. They are already working on a couple of alliance proposals. If no one comes forward to sponsor her education before the proposals fructify, Shil­pakala will have to start preparing for the wedding and her career dreams will turn to dust. Those who wish to help Shilpakala realise her dreams call: 8861441186. Indigent, intelligent, they dream big Bidar, May 11, DHNS: Free board and lodge provided by their college helped Sharanappa and Mushtaq Sharanappa Saibanna Pujar of Gurusanagi in Yadgir District, son of a cement factory worker, dares to dream despite the poverty of his family. He has scored 85.83 per cent marks in the second PU Science examination and has made his parents proud. He has bagged 93 marks in Physics, 93 in Chemistry, 94 in Mathematics, 85 in Biology, 60 in English and 90 in Kannada. The eldest among the three sons of Saibanna Pujar, a fireman at the Rajashree cement factory in Sedam taluk of Gulbarga district, Sharanappa hopes to become an engineer. Saibanna Pujar manages his family on a modest salary of Rs 5,500 and has ensured that his children are educated. Shaheen Pre-University College in Bidar, where Sharanappa studied, provided him free board and lodge. His father is happy that his son has passed with flying colours. But he is concerned over his son’s future. “I cannot afford to continue his studies. If only the Government or philanthropists give wings to his dreams....” he adds. She never let herself ‘Down’ Udupi, May 11, DHNS: Malavika Somayaji has proved that disability can never cripple the urge to make it big. Malavika, who suffers from Down’s Syndrome, has successfully passed the II PU exams with a percentage of 45. Her elder sister Madhura told Deccan Herald that Malavika studied at B M School in Parkala from class I to X. Malavika wrote her II PU exam as an external candidate. Madhura said Malavika’s future plans were yet to be decided. “We all are happy and Malavika is happier,” Madhura said.

Endosulfan debate in India- Whose life is it anyway?

Endosulfan is a pesticide and it is an organochlorine which is known to persist in the environment causing damage to aquatic systems and is known to bioaccumulate and travel long distances. Australian chemical regulatory body APVMA has cancelled its registration since Oct 2010. (1).

In India it has been used frequently and indiscriminately as if it is a harmless chemical. Indian government claims to defend its usage as if there are no other alternatives available. This is the defense it has been using for quite considerable number of years. This argument is used to ensure agriculture productivity is maintained (even though it hovers around 2% so no great productivity). However in agriculture areas where is it used frequently it has alleged to have caused severe deformities in new born babies to cancer among adults. However the government either state or central governments have not made much effort to prove this scientifically. States such as Kerala and more recently Karnataka have banned the use of this chemicals. In Geneva recent convention has led to a decision to ban this although India won some exemptions. However this still does not solve the issue as to what caused these deformities and cancers. Is it truly Endosulfan or some other cause? Although Endosulfan is known for its environmental hazardous nature without proper scientific proof Indian governments do not have a scientific leg to stand on.

Another key factor to note in the use of Pesticides in India is the sheer lack of comprehensive Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) or Proper Lables. In the western countries the MSDS is comprehensive with Minimum/maximum residual limits and minimum withholding periods. Apart from these farmers and horticultural staff are trained in the safe use of these chemical and use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S). In India, I have yet to come across these legislations for agriculture. In India pesticides herbicides and insecticides are used indiscriminately without the proper use of PPEs. This leads to the question was it Endosulfan or some other chemical which is still not banned in India yet farmers use it indiscriminately without PPE and expose themselves, their families and general public who buy these vegetables, fruits and other food products not knowing how much of pesticide residue is still remaining. Washing need not remove all the chemicals from food products. 

This leads a serous question Indian agricultural productivity at what cost? to the farmers and general public. Is Indian government interested in just feeding the public to shut them up or is it interested in public health? Do farmers children and families have to pay the price for feeding Indian population?. Already over 150,000 farmers have committed suicides in India due to various reasons how many more need to be scarified? Are the public so complacent or ignorant or blaze' about these issues that they don't care? Every time public consume these chemicals even in micrograms if they bioaccumulate there is a chance that they can cause health problems. In a country like India where governments and private organizations are not interested in conducting research on these issues, it may never be known what is the price the population is paying for so called productivity and growth.

The answer for general public is to wash all vegetables with water thoroughly as much as you can to reduce the chemical intake. If possible grow as many vegetables as possible. To their credit both Kerala and Karnataka governments have banned the Endosulfan use. They can go a step forward and train the farmers in safe use of chemicals. Even if they spend 10% of the money they spend on unnecessary fertilizer subsidies on training the farmers in safe use of agrochemicals many health problems can be reduced. This is a serious environmental and public health issue which government needs to address immediately. India may have agricultural sector growth but could pay a very heavy price in the longer term in the health sector and overall productivity.

It is high time Indian public paid attention to these matters and demanded better policies from their governments.

References

1. http://www.apvma.gov.au/news_media/chemicals/endosulfan.php
2. http://www.bayergroupindia.com/thiodan.html
3. http://www.bayercropscience.com.au/resources/products/msds/Thiodan_MSDS_16_0507.pdf

(2). This is the Product information for Thiodan ( Endosulfan) in India. Active Ingredient:

Endosulfan

Product Category:

Foliar Insecticide

Mode of Action:

Contact & stomach insecticide.

Crops:

All pulses, vegetables, fruits, rice, cotton, tea, soybean

Year of Registration In India:

1968

Disease Spectrum/ Weed Spectrum (for Herbicides):

All pests belonging to Lepidoptera, Homoptera, Coleoptera , Diptera, Thysanptera

Formulation Categories:

EC - Emulsifiable Concentrate

Cropwise Dosages:

1 - 1.25 lt/ha

Product Features and Benefits:

Contact & Stomach poison. An ideal partner in IPM/HRM

Antidote:

1. Gastric lavage with a mixture of activated charcoal-2 parts, magnesium oxide - 1 part, and tannic acid - 1part in 300 ml warm water ...2. Saline pugative may be given but oil laxative should not be given ...3. To induce sedation and control convulsions phenobarbitone (upto 0.7 g per day) or phenobarbitone (0.25 to 0.5 g per day) may be given ...4. 10% Calcium gluconate may be given intravenously to control spasms. Epinephrine is contraindicated.

Precautions:

Handle with care, Poisonous, Do not touch or Inhale the contents.

Toxicity Indication:

Poison

Highly Toxic. The question is why was this product allowed to be sprayed as an aerial spray despite company labels asks people not to touch it? Endosulfan poisoning Ronald Anil Fernandes Deccan Herald 1-05-2011 The fight is not over yet for victims of the pesticide who need to be compensated Twenty-six-year-old Vidya and her twin brothers Diwakar and Dinesh, 24, of Alankar village on Uppinangady–Subramanya road in Dakshina Kannada district, about 75 km from Mangalore, would have been gainfully employed  or perhaps happily married, had they been like others their age. Instead, they are  confined to the four walls of their house since birth. Their mother Rajeevi has to fend for them — right from feeding them to their other daily needs. Their future is uncertain. Sadanand, a postman and an activist, attributes their plight to probable use of water or eating fish from the rivulet nearby where trucks carrying endosulfan pesticide were washed many years ago. Sheelavathi, 43, resident of Aethadka, about 30 km from Kasargod, can speak and think like any woman. But she is  completely paralysed below the neck for the last 30-odd years. She explains her misery: “I was in Class II when  a helicopter passed overhead spraying something (endosulfan), which doused me also. As soon as I reached home, I collapsed. That was the last day I walked. My parents took me to different doctors in vain. My father passed away leaving my mother to take care of me. My only brother too died in an accident sometime ago.” Her mother Devaki would lock her up in the house and go to work. Of late, Devaki (over 70 years) has not been working. She waits for their relative Shankari to bathe Sheelavathi, who is barely three feet. These are but two examples from two coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka) and Kasargod (Kerala) out of thousands of victims of endosulfan, a pesticide used by the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) since 1978. The purpose was simple: To get high yield from cashew plantations spread over thousands of acres of fertile land across both districts. The result: Thousands of victims suffering from various illnesses, including cancer, asthma, mental retardation, allergy, early onset of menstruation or delayed sexual maturity and impotency among others. Doctor reveals horror… The horror tales came to light when Dr Mohan Kumar, a medical practitioner at Swarga in Kasargod district, wrote an article in Kerala Medical Journal about the unusual increase in human and cattle suffering way back in 1996 and subsequently in ‘Down to Earth’ in 2000, establishing a link between spraying of endosulfan and human suffering. “Almost all children born during the ‘endosulfan period’ are suffering from one or other disability, he said. At the same time, a group of post graduate students led by Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag (then professor of Pharmacology in KMC, Manipal) conducted a study and brought 103 patients (out of 400 identified by Dr Mohan Kumar) to Manipal and tested them. To their surprise, the types of diseases matched with scientific literature,  establishing the vital link. Out of them, 23 were mentally retarded, 20 suffered from epilepsy, 43 from mental illness. It is then that  Kerala agriculture minister Krishnan K sought to know why endosulfan affected only Kerala when it was being sprayed in border areas of Karnataka too. “We rushed to areas mentioned by the minister - Kokkada, Patrame and surrounding region - and enquired with residents. A thorough investigation revealed that there were many people with similar deformities, which had not been noticed before,” Dr Shanbhag recalls. While Kerala government has identified 4,273 victims (including 525 bed-ridden), Karnataka government is yet to identify all victims. While three villages have been surveyed, 27 other villages are yet to be covered. Social  activists put the figure at several thousand victims in both the districts. Dr Shanbhag says that he has collected details about 6,500 children suffering from various diseases in the affected parts of Dakshina Kannada district alone. K Shankar, a resident of Kajampady in Kasargod district and former employee of Cashew Project of Kasargod (later Plantation Corporation of Kerala),  alleges that real victims have not been  compensated while those with prior deformities had falsely claimed compensation. Janaki (52), Pammu (65), Bhagya (65), Madaru (70), Chimploo (68), Aithappa (60) and Ammanni (50) are just a few to name. All of them have worked for PCK and have been victims for the last several years. But till date, they have not received any compensation, alleged Shankar. Gene analysis must Dr Shanbhag insists that every boy/girl of marriageable age from the affected areas must undergo gene analysis to prevent defective children being born. There are at least 1,800 pregnant women in the sprayed areas of Dakshina Kannada district alone, most of whom never go for scanning (from which physical deformities can be identified) before delivery. “The government has to arrange for their scanning,” he asserts. Sridhar Gowda, who lost his eyesight but is a ray of hope to many victims in Kokkada and Patrame, says the victims are poor and the government must provide compensation as well as monthly pension to meet their medical expenses. Notwithstanding the global ban on endosulphan, until the government takes firm measures to eliminate harmful pesticides in the market under different names, the numbers of these victims, just a few thousands now, is bound to grow. When a government enterprise itself sells the dreaded pesticide worth crores of rupees, how effective will a ban be is the million dollar question. Go to Top

Karnataka to re-impose ban on endosulfan

Belgaum (Karnataka), April 30 (IANS)

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday said the government will re-impose within two days the ban on use of pesticide Endosulfan in the state.

"We will promulgate an ordinance within two days to ban endosulfan's use in the state as it is harmful to health of the people," Yeddyurappa told reporters in this north Karnataka town, about 500 kms from Bangalore. Karnataka had Feb 17 banned Endosulfan use for 60 days. The state has been demanding a nation-wide ban. Endosulfan has been extensively used in Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts on the west coast to protect cashew crop from diseases. While imposing the 60-day ban Feb 17, the Karnataka cabinet had said that aerial spraying of the insecticide had resulted in various health problems such as children suffering physical deformities and mental retardation, skin cancer and epilepsy. Decision is victory of people against pesticide lobby, says Achuthanandan Geneva meet bans endosulfan R Gopakumar,THIRUVANANTHAPURAM , April 30, DHNS: The ongoing sixth conference of parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Pollutants in Geneva has accepted a global ban on the pesticide endosulfan whose continuous use is believed to have caused serious health problems in parts of Kerala and Karnataka. The conference took the decision based on the risk profile and risk management for endosulfan done by the Persistent Organic Pollutant Review Committee. The ban, which will cover technical endosulfan, its related isomers and endosulfan sulphate, is expected to take over five years to show some effect. The Union Cabinet will have to ratify the decision if the ban has to take effect in the country. According to C Jayakumar, environmentalist and an independent observer  attending the meet, though the conference approved the ban which was recommended, India was also allowed sufficient exemptions that it demanded. This means that endosulfan can still be used against specified pests in cotton, jute, coffee, tea, tobacco, cowpeas, beans, tomato, okra, eggplant, onion, potato, chillies, apple, mango, gram, arhar, maize, rice, wheat, groundnut and mustard till alternatives are found. There is no other cheaper and effective broad spectrum pesticide available to Indian farmers as of now. CM breaks news Incidentally, the “breaking news’’ in Kerala came from the office of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan who has been in the vanguard of the “ban endosulfan movement” raging in the state for the past several months. In the last few weeks, the state had witnessed a mass campaign for a national ban on the pesticide spearheaded by none other than the state’s 87-year-old chief minister. Achuthanandan had even sat on a day’s hunger strike here three days ago with this demand. Understandably, the state which observed a shutdown on Friday on a call by the ruling LDF received the news of the global ban with a sense of fulfilment. “The decision in Geneva is the victory of the people against the pesticide lobby. It was our unflinching resistance that forced the Centre to change its pro-endosulfan stand at the last minute, leading to the ban,’’ he said. Endosulfan is believed to have been the single reason for the unusually large number of babies born with physical deformities and neurological disorders in parts of Kasargod in the last 20 years. Investigations pointed out that the aerial spraying of endosulfan for 20 years since 1970 in the cashew plantations owned by the state-owned Plantation Corporation of Kerala may have resulted in the disorders. Some Karnataka villages adjoining Kasargod have also reported health disorders. Though Kerala had banned the use of the pesticide in 2005 it was not effectively implemented. Karnataka had banned the pesticide recently.

Amidst the thorns of corruption some fragrant roses bloom!!

Governments of India have set up numerous schemes to so called help the rural sector especially the "aam admi" (are these mango people? as aam = mango) or the common man and farmers. However, without going into politics of it all I can say proof of the pudding is in the eating. Statistics supplied by the government itself shows that over 800 million people in India are living with an income of $2 per day. That does not speak much about the efforts made by the governments of all persuasions to help the farmers and the common man. Most of the schemes are mismanaged, corrupt and downright managed by apathetic corrupt "babus" who specialize in sheer incompetence and ignorance.  Amongst such arrogant management here are stories of people taking matters into their own hands and not just surviving but thriving and utilizing the money effectively and efficiently. People of India are not in need of pity charity or condescending attitudes or patronizing politicians giving their "subjects" hand outs. They need a hand up. Once they are able to get the help they need they are capable of creating jobs and as late Prof. C. K. Prahalad said create "Fortune at the bottom of the Pyramid". Over 85% of the Indians do not have access to any banking services so how do they know how to gain financial literacy or how to conduct their financial affairs. In Kenya with the start of banking system such as M-Pesa poor people have got access to financial services through mobile phones. In Africa over 500 million people now use the services. In India governments and RBI should start looking at removing archaic banking regulations and move into 21st century to enable banking services. It is not that hard to implement the systems are there now and security issues have been already addressed. But in India as in every other case wheel needs to be reinvented as if Indians are the only ones who know how to do things securely and safely and rest of the world is not interested in safety and security of their governments or people.  Google is developing android based financial services which will allow people to pay through the phone for milk newspaper etc. Banks already have paypass where one can pay for small amounts through waiving of credit card in front of a reader. Use of QRcodes ( Quick Response Codes) will allow secure interaction of various links. India should stop reinventing the wheel and learn to use the wheel to make a car or ride in one. Time for procrastination and apathy is over. World events have shown that people are fed up with old archaic dynastic incompetent systems and want to move on with a new world using information technology. World is demanding true equal opportunity for all. No one in their right mind wants free trade but want fair trade. The people below are the best example of given half a chance people can turn their life around without education in a traditional sense.  I have put these articles in my blog to celebrate the achievements of people who turn their life around without joining the Victims club or Hand-wringer's club and said look at poor poor me and have taken meager resources and have achieved something for themselves and the community. India needs more people of this nature. I thank Deccan Herald for publishing these inspiring articles. MGNREGS funds utilised for afforestation in Asundi in Gadag

This GP has a green thumb

R Virendra Prasad, Gadag, March 19, DHNS:

The Asundi gram panchayat has set an example through its afforestation initiative taken up under the MGNREGS.

At a time when MGNREGS is associated with misuse of funds and irregularities, the Asundi gram panchayat has utilised its funds for growing saplings which will be planted around the village as soon as the rains begin in June. The gram panchayat has set aside Rs five lakh of the MGNREGS grant for the purpose. More than 55,000 saplings are being grown at the Government school premises in the village, of which about 50,000 saplings are teak and the remaining are banyan, pongamia and neem. The forest department is supporting the gram panchayat in its endeavour. Trees on both sides of road Two women from the school have been watering and taking care of the saplings for the past two and a half months. Two villages –– Asundi and Mallasamudra –– come under this gram panchayat and the plan is to plant the saplings on both sides of the road, areas identified as parks in layouts and on one side of agricultural fields. The gram panchayat has already begun digging pits for planting the saplings. ‘Poor work’ Elaborating on the initiative, gram panchayat member Somareddy Ramenahalli said: “Every year 20 per cent of the MGNREGS funds allotted to the gram panchayat is given to the forest department. But the department not only plants saplings haphazardly, but does not take care of them. So we decided to set up a nursery ourselves with the funds.” After gram panchayat president M M Hosamani, vice president Shakuntala Mulagunda and members gave their go ahead, the idea was put to action, Somareddy added.

Entrepreneural success

Her determination reaped benefits

Manish, Mysore, March 19, DHNS:

''If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance,'' observed 18th century lexicographer Samuel Johnson.

The story of Padma Satish, a resident of Neralekere, Srirangapatna Taluk, Mandya District, is a perfect example of how perseverance pays rich dividends. Padma was one of the participants to receive a smart card and zero balance account offered by Canara Bank, here on Saturday. Hailing from a rural background, Padma, who once used to tend to livestock and work in her four acre farm in order to make ends meet, now employs around 20 women in her village to prepare a wide range of homemade products. Her array of products include snacks made out of ragi including biscuits, papads and pakoda. She is also responsible for manufacturing edibles such as jamun mix, puliyogare mix, badam malt and inedibles such as candles, soap oil, phenyl and a range of other products that has takers in the neigbhouring villages. Recalling her growth through the last four years, Padma said earlier by cultivating only paddy and groundnuts, she used to earn only ` 25,000 per year. However, undergoing training at the Zilla Krishi Kendra changed her life, she added. She mentions that selling products made out of ragi itself fetches her anywhere between ` 40,000 and `  45,000 per annum. When she headed to take part in the training programmes, Padma recollects the opposition she had to face within the family. However, with a firm goal of succeeding, she started selling products in the village. Over a period of time, Padma’s products became widely popular in the neigbhouring villages too. Having passed only SSLC, Padma takes hour long class for B Sc students who visit Ragi Research Centre at VC farm, in Mandya. Also understanding the importance of education, Padma mentioned that she had worked hard to ensure that her three children pursue their studies. She mentions with pride that her eldest daughter is studying engineering at GSSS Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women in Mysore. Financial Inclusion  Canara Bank Circle Office, Mysore, had organised a programme on Financial Inclusion and loan linkage for Self Help Groups and other weaker sections of the society. Participants also zero balance accounts on the occasion. Around 1,200 smart cards were distributed to SHG members of 22 villages under the Mysore Circle Office, under the programme. Executive Director Jagadish Pai inaugurated the programme. General Manager N Ramesh, Deputy General Manager Subramanya Iyer and others were present at the programme.