Kozhikode : Massive protests have been organized in Kozhikode and across Kerala against Endosulfan, the harmful pesticide which caused serious health problems and diseases among thousands of people in Kasargod district, according to the findings of the independent investigations by various agencies and the government. The pesticide was widely used in cashew plantations in Kasargod district. Hundreds of people from various walks of life participated in the human chain, organized by the district administration at Mananchira Square, Kozhikode.

The protesters criticized the central government’s stance on the hazardous pesticide while the meeting on banning Endosulfan was being held in Geneva as part of Stockholm convention.

The Kozhikode district administration organized a human chain against the pesticide at Mananchira Square. The district collector Dr.P.B Saleem, Corporation Mayor Prof.A.K Premajam, M.K.Raghavan M.P, MLAs A.Pradeep Kumar and K.K Lathika, the BJP (Bharathiya Janata Party) state president V.Muraleedharan, C.K Padmanabhan, environmental activists, cultural leaders and many common people took part in the protest.

A group of medical students organized awareness campaign along with street play. The team began their trip from Alapuzha Medical College on 16th April and concluded on 25th in Kasargod. They performed the street play, focusing the dangers of the pesticide, in front of Public Library at Mananchira Square.

The circular from students of Government TD Medical College, Alapuzha has said it is the duty of medical fraternity as the responsible citizen to make the mass aware of the dangerous effect of Endosulfan. 

Medical students’ protest was lead by two practicing doctors, the alumni of Alappuzha TD Medical College, Dr. Bipin K Nair and Nirmal.

Apart from presenting their street performances, the team campaigned in some medical college campuses as part of their anti-Endosulfan drive.

KSU (Kerala Students Union), the students’ wing of the Congress burnt the effigy of central minister Sharad Pawar at Mananchira Square. The students started their march from DCC office premises and concluded at Mananchira Square. Slogans were raised against Sharad Pawar, the central minister for Agriculture, who had made controversial statement in support of the harmful pesticide. KSU district president R.Shehin, Secretary V.Suresh, Azeez Mavoor, Shebin and Nihal lead the protest march.

MSF (Muslim Students Front) campaigned against Endosulfan and collected massive signatures from the public.

As many as small and big protests have been in progress in city premises and rural areas for many days.

Meanwhile the CPI(M) (Communist Party of India (Marxist) lead LDF (Left Democratic Front) has called for one day hartal on 29 th April. The UDF (United Development Front) alleged the move as politically motivated since the anti-Endosulfan campaign has got good response from the public at large.

One day fast observed by the Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan in Thiruvananthapuram, expressing his loyalty to anti-Endosulfan protesters had got remarkable political mileage to him as a crusader against the dangerous pesticide.

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