The protest, which drew about 100 people, was organised by the endosulfan protest action committee, People's Solidarity Concern, South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (Sichrem) and other NGOs.
"Ban endosulfan at national level," shouted protestors outside the Town Hall on Sunday, which also marked the World Environment Day.
"If Bhopal gas tragedy was an accident, the government's decision to not ban the pesticide is a planned murder. Endosulfan is more dangerous than corruption," they said.
The protest, which drew about 100 people, was organised by the endosulfan protest action committee, People's Solidarity Concern, South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (Sichrem) and other NGOs.
"A few weeks ago, the state government headed by BS Yeddyurappa had banned endosulfan temporarily. This was a good thing. However, they have now made a u-turn saying they will not ban the pesticide," said Jagadish Chandra, convenor of People's Solidarity Concern.
"Endosulfan is more dangerous than corruption," said president of Canara Bank SC/ST Welfare Association Purushotham Das. "The government should have taken keen interest in banning endosulfan. On the contrary, by not banning the drug, the government is putting the poor man's life in danger," Das said.
"Endosulfan is affecting the future generation as well. This pesticide has intergenerational effects. It is a killer," said Gelesh Omathan, an IT professional who participated in the protest.
"We are saying that the ban on endosulfan should be enforced throughout the country," said Sudheer Kumar, convenor for endosulfan protest action committee, Kerala. Kumar said 9,000 victims of endosulfan have been identified in Kasargod district alone. Of this, 4,800 people are bedridden. Similar effects are also being witnessed in Udupi, Kodagu and Bhatkal in Karnataka.
The pesticide causes severe health impacts including deformities of limbs, loss of motor nervous control, brain damage, delayed puberty and cancer, said Kumar adding that the protest was staged on the occasion of World Environment Day. "This is a killer pesticide. It should not be allowed to be used," said Chandra.
"The government claimed there are no alternatives for the pesticide. But the pesticide has destroyed the fertility of the soil. More farmers are moving to organic farming. Hence the pesticide should be banned," he said.
For the safety of the people, it is best to ban the pesticide, added another protestor.Activists protesting in front of the Town Hall demanding a ban of endosulfan, on Sunday.
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