Umendra Dutt - Kheti Virasat Mission

Political parties should come clean on green agenda urged social and environmental groups

2012-01-21T22:38:00.000+05:30

There is significant scientific evidence available today which shows beyond doubt that the soil, water and air of Punjab have been grossly polluted with highly poisonous/ toxic substances. The state is sitting on a volcano of environmental health crisis, which is affecting not only human beings but all other living species.

Use of highly poisonous agro-chemicals (pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers); discharge of untreated or partially treated industrial waste into natural water bodies and coal based power plants are the main sources of pollution. This is the reason why it’s high time our political parties clearly spell out their environmental priorities. The time has come when ecology and environmental action should be the rallying point for all pro-people and pro-nature forces in Punjab.

More than 50 civil society organisations, religious groups and farmer unions are already pushing for the cause under a social alliance, Vatavaran Ate Samaj Bachao Morcha (VSBM). The main motive is to bring environmental health and ecological crisis to the center stage of current election debate.

We are confronting the entire political class with some hard questions related to destruction of ecology, contamination of food chain and high prevalence of environmental toxins in Punjab. VSBM has adopted a People’s Green Agenda seeking proclamation of ‘Environment Emergency’ in Punjab and a widespread epidemiological mapping to ascertain the impact of chronic toxicity in the state.

The Morcha is also organising public dialogues at all district headquarters of Punjab to create awareness among the electorates. Voters must demand answers from the candidates and parties who come to seek their mandate this time.

Environmental governance capability of each political party is the most essential prerequisite for good and holistic governance. The experience of last two decades shows that development paradigm clearly lacks ecological concerns. Contrary to popular belief, there are successful environment friendly policies which can be adopted by Punjab for sustainable development.

The agriculture sector needs a fresh vision to ensure financial as well as ecological viability. People of Punjab have long been cheated by subsequent governments which have been callous and non-committal on their own promises related to environment protection.

We call upon the Election Commission to declare election manifesto as a legal document. If a party coming to power fails to implement at least 75 per cent of its election promises, it should be de-recognised and its office bearers and leaders debarred from contesting elections.

We implore the people of Punjab to stress upon issues of environment and health when the candidates come to their doors seeking support. This is the only way we can expect Punjab to flourish again. Our pride and heritage is at stake. If we don’t act now, there is little hope for better future.

The Morcha is a democratic federation of several groups belonging to diverse socio-political ideologies and working on different issues. However, they all have joined forces on the core issue of environmental and health security besides ecological sustainability of agriculture.

VSBM represents voice of concerned social forces which include Kheti Virasat Mission, Nature Human Centric People’s Movement, Internationalist Democratic Party, United Communist Party of India, Phagwara Environment Association, Association for Democratic Rights, Indian Doctors for Peace and Development, Environmental Health Action Group, Eco Sikh and Election Watch Punjab. It is supported by various factions of Bhartiya Kisan Union and other farmer’s organisations.

We have doctors, farmers, activists, writers, artists, lawyers and scientists on our board. Eminent individuals like Gyani Kewal Singh , Dr Bibi Inderjit Kaur , Sant Balbir Singh Seenchewal, Prof Jagmohan Singh and former minister Jagdev Singh Jassowal.

Nanak Kheti : The Science of High Yield without Poisonous Pesticides and Synthetic Fertilizers

2011-10-20T04:45:00.001+05:30

Science of High Yield without Poisonous Pesticides and Synthetic Fertilizers - - Nanak Kheti*

Om Prakash Rupela

India’s growing population needs a proportional increase in food production. Much of the land is already under agriculture and therefore the needed increase has to come largely through increased productivity (yield per unit land). Agricultural education in the past at least five decades is the one based on agrochemicals - Green Revolution (GR) technologies and this has eventually influenced the agricultural research for development (AR4D) and the resultant policies accordingly.

Manufacture/supply of the three major inputs of GR technologies – fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation – need fossil fuels and/or expensive energy and are in turn associated with serious environmental and/or health issues (eg. Bhatinda is the cancer endemic district of Punjab, linked to pesticides). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has conceded that agriculture (conventional, modern or GR) as practiced today by majority farmers has negative environmental impacts including production of greenhouse gases (GHG) (www.gcrio.org/ipcc /techrepI/agriculture.html) but has not suggested any solutions/alternatives.

* Prepared for sharing with the participants of the session on Nanak Kheti on the auspicious occasion of the Gaddi Divas of Shri Guru Granth Saheb, 20 Oct. 2011, Amritsar, Punjab.

Organic agriculture (=Nanak Kheti) in the past about 20 years has emerged as the effective alternative and is based on sound scientific principles. Several organic farmers have claimed to harvest yields comparable to their neighbor farmers using chemicals. Despite this, the official stand of the AR4D system (agricultural universities, agricultural departments in different states and at the centre) does not support organic farming (=Nanak Kheti). Their official stand is (a) crop yield reduces with organic farming in the absence of fertilizers, (b) there is not enough farm-yard manure or compost to replace the chemical fertilizers, (c) chemical pesticides are essential to protect crops, and (d) Bt-crops are being developed to reduce the use of the harmful pesticides. This official stand is indeed based on experiments, conducted largely at research farms. However, all these experiments do not honor the basic tenets of organic farming and are done on small plots. The successful organic farmers (Table 1) follow (a) the needed crop diversity, (b) integration of trees, animals and crops to enhance plant biomass as source of crop nutrients and to manage crop pests, (c) recycling of crop residues, instead of burning them, (d) encouraging birds and friendly insects for managing insect-pests for high yield. The AR4D system does not invest in the needed research, including verifying the claims of high yield without agro-chemicals and articulating science to the agri-practices of the organic farmers. Different stakeholders of the AR4D, including consumers, need to ponder why the system does not wish to promote organic farming (Nanak Kheti) for the masses. As a scientist educated/trained in the modern agriculture of agro-chemicals but having done research comparing it with the agriculture with low-cost biointensive agri-practices without agro-chemicals, the presentation is focused on sharing the science behind these agri-practices for high yield. Some facts are listed below.

1. A crop needs 30+ elements, in balanced form, for good growth and yield and not only the N, P, K widely available in market.

2. All the 30+ elements are available in most soils and in the plant biomass (leaves, branches, flowers, fruits of every plant), but their composition differs.

3. Each of the 30+ elements exist in two forms – available or water soluble form and un-available or bound form. Majority of the concentration of each of these elements in soil and in plant biomass is in un-available or bound form.

4. Bound form of all these elements can be converted to available form by microorganisms in soil and on root system and by macro-fauna – widely available in cowdung and in traditional knowledge ferments eg. Amritpaani, prepared by using cowdung.

5. Chemical fertilizers negatively affect the population and/or functions of the agriculturally beneficial microorganisms like ‘rhizobia’ – known to convert atmospheric inert nitrogen in air to plant utilizable form of nitrogen (called nitrogen fixation).

6. Agriculturally beneficial microorganisms perform functions such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate and potash solubilization, plant growth promotion, antagonists of disease causing fungi and entomopathogens of insect-pests. They are found in large numbers in the different types of ferments widely used by organic farmers.

7. It is not essential to have large quantity of compost for successful organic farming. Compost be seen as bio-agent to enhance the population of agriculturally beneficial microorgisms and macrofauna in soils.

8. Trees (including fruit trees, biomass trees, medicinal trees – diversity) grown in alleys 50 to 60 feet apart all along the length of fields can provide all the nutrients needed for high yield, when used as surface mulch. The trees access these nutrients from deeper soil zones and provide us on soil surface. The trees should be managed as hedge, instead of big trees so that they do not shade crops.

9. Traditional knowledge microbial agents like Jeevamrit, Amritpaani are rich in population of agriculturally beneficial microorganisms (stated in the item 6 above) and every farmer can make these at low-cost at his/her own farm.

10. Regular addition of plant biomass used as surface mulch and microbial agents result in high soil organic matter leading to high soil health – making plants tolerant to drought and pests.

11. There are predators and parasites in nature for every insect-pest that damage our crops. For example, pod-borer of legumes or boll worm of cotton has about 300 types of natural enemies and each of these can occur in large numbers. Population of these natural enemies increases in the absence of chemical pesticides.

12. For majority of the birds (at least 90%) insects are their food. This natural food habit gets disturbed when poisonous pesticides are applied on crops.

13.

Table 1: List of Successful Organic Farmers in India. All are award winners for their Innovations and/or High Yield without agro-chemicals.

Note: This is a dynamic list and gets revised periodically. The last revision was made on 06 Mar 2010.

S. No.	Name and brief address	Phone no. in India	Award/comments
Andhra Pradesh
1.	Nagaratnam Naidu, Hyderabad	09440424463, 040-24063963	Babu Jagjivan Ram Award by ICAR in 2008, Highest rice productivity with SRI under organic system.
2.	Narasimha Raju, G. Gudiwada, Krishna dist. Andhra Pradesh	09247314337	“Padmashri” by the Government of India, in 2009, for technical developments in agriculture
Gujrat
3	Bhaskar Save, Deheri, Umbergaon dist.	0260-2562126	Award winner in CA and later in OF of Gujrat Government’s, 2002
Karnataka
4	Abhay Mutalik Desai, Tilakwadi, Belgaum	09900775633	Krishi Pundit award in 2005-2006
5	Ashok Tubachi, Tilakwadi, Belgaum	09448126953	Krishi Pundit award in 2006-2007
6	Basavaraju, B., Santeshwara, Hasan dist.	09611731967	Best farmer award 2000. State-level G. Made Gowda Pratisthan award in 2008
7	^aSuresh Desai, Chikodi, Belgaum dist. Karnataka	09480448256 08338-262056	Krishi Pundit award, 2005. High sugarcane productivity (about 14 t ha^-1), plus dry turmeric (about 2.9 t ha^-1), plus soybean (about 2.4 t ha^-1) plus groundnut (about 1.0 t ha^-1) - all three as intercrop.
Kerala
8	Viswan, T.S., Karikadu, Cherthala, Alappuzha	09447265757	Karshaka Mitra Award, 1997. Vegetables as major crops
Maharashtra
9	Manohar Parchure, Amboda, Wardha dist., Maharashtra	09422152824	2003: Sheti Mitra Award
10	Diliprao Deshmukh, Maharashtra	9881497092	2001: Krishi Bhooshan Award, 2002: Sheti Mitra Award
11	Manoj Jawandal, Katol, Nagpur dist., Maharashtra	09822515913	Krishi Bhooshan 2008
12	Prakash Kochar, Hinganghat, Wardha dist. Maharashtra	07153-244024	Krishi Pandit 2001
13	Prasad Deo, Nanded,	09921814519	Marathwada Bhooshan 2007
14	Raosaheb Dagadkar, Amangaon, Amravati	07222-238307	Krishi Bhooshan 2000
15	Subhash Sharma, Dorli, Yavatmal	09422869620	Award winner in CA and later in Org. Farming (“Krishi Bhooshan” in 2002)
16	Vishwasrao Patil, Mhasvad, Pachora, Jalgaon dist.	09763475764	Krishi Bhooshan Award, 2006
	Shri Ghanshyam Chopde, Wardha
Madhya Pradesh
17.	Deepak Suchde, Bajwada, Dewas dist.	09826054388	Vasantrao Naik’s Pratishthan Award 2005. Maximum diversity ever seen on a farm.
Uttar Pradesh
18.	Shri Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi Village Tadia, Post Jakhini, Dist. Varanasi, U.P.	9956941993	Has developed improved varieties of wheat, paddy, arhar, moong, peas and vegetables. Given seeds free to about 20 lakh farmers, Awarded by the president APJ Abdul Kalaam in 2007.

Sources: (a) Personal contact with the farmers, (b) contacts who know the farmer personally, (c) ‘Organic Source Book’ 2009, Other India Press Goa.

Om Rupela

former Scientist, ICRISAT, oprupela@gmail.com

120-1, Saket Colony, ECIL post, Hyderabad 500062.

Upcoming Vidhan Sabha Elections : Multilogue on Sociopolitical Agenda on Environmental toxicity, Health, Agriculture and Ecological Crisis in Punjab

2011-10-11T13:26:00.009+05:30

FOR UPCOMING VIDHAN SABHA ELECTIONS IN PUNJAB

People’s Green Agenda Submitted to all Political Parties of Punjab to draw a Crisis-mitigate strategy for Environmental Health, Agricultural and Ecological Crisis in state.

Dear Friends,

As you know that state of Punjab is reeling under the severe economic-social-ecological and political crisis. Governance is failing and society is disintegrating. Working people in general and farmers in particular are under severe stress. Natural Resources in general and water and land in particular are depleting because of unsustainable model of agriculture and development. Natural Resources, Government Institutions, Economy, Health and Education have been put on sale to National and International Super Rich for earning profits. Multiple types of environmental toxicity are playing havoc with delicate ecological balance. It has resulted in unprecedented health crisis in the state. This whole crisis is creation of wrong governmental policies at Centre and State level.

There is urgent need that all the organizations of the working people including political parties should rise up to the occasion and come-up with their visions on Pro people Socio Political agenda in which the issue of saving Natural Resources, Environmental and Agriculture should be at the fore front. Sustainable Model of agriculture and development has to be the moving force of society. This needs clean, non corrupt and transparent Governance. Under such a broad pro people agenda for Punjab, Kheti Virasat Mission is trying to play its role through awareness generation regarding sustainable agriculture, environmental health, saving environment and saving farmers. The Punjabis are already discussing and debating these issues. To ignite this debate further we should try to make these issues as Political Agenda in the coming State Assembly Elections. We had already submitted a document to the State Government some times back. An abridged version of the document is attached for discussion.

In this context and in continuation of its efforts to build a civil society movement on the issues of Environmental toxicity , Health and Ecological Crisis in Punjab, KVM in partnership with SADED New Delhi and CRRID Chandigarh has decided to organise a Multilogue on 28-29 October 2011 with participation from medical professionals, toxicologists, ecologists, social scientists , agriculture experts, organic farmers, farmers' Unions , Political parties and other important stack holders.

Eminent Environment Activist Sunita Narayan, Director, CSE , New Delhi will inaugurate the multilogue . Eminent Environment Epidemiologist Dr S G Kabra , Jaipur will deliver key-note address.
Please confirm your participation ,

regards
Umendra Dutt

Please find copy of Green Agenda for 2012 Vidhan Sabha Elections in Punjab......

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION, JAITU

Discussion paper for Multilogue on Sociopolitical Response to Environmental toxicity, Health, Agriculture and Ecological Crisis in Punjab, scheduled for Friday-Saturday: 28-29 October 2011 at Seminar Hall, CRRID, Sector 19-A, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh

People’s Green Agenda for Environmental Health, Agricultural and Ecological Crisis in Punjab Submitted to all Political Parties of Punjab by Kheti Virasat Mission

Ensure Community involvement and Participatory Action Research system for Mitigating Environmental Health Crisis in Punjab

There is significant scientific evidence available now which shows beyond doubt that our environment—soil, water and air- has been grossly polluted with highly poisonous/ toxic substances. These toxic substances have already reached the food chain and the human bodies. Their levels in human and animal tissues are high enough to disturb their physiology and cause or contribute to various diseases and premature death. That virtually means that we are being slowly poisoned along with other species who are consuming the same food for their survival. Punjab is sitting on a volcano of environmental health crisis, which is affecting not only the human beings but all the living species. We are neck deep in toxic environment. The effects of this chronic poisoning on human health are not being taken note of by medical profession, health department and the governments. Similarly the impact on animal and plant health is not being given the urgently needed due attention by the concerned departments.

The toxins are coming from multiple sources. The use of highly poisonous agro-chemicals (pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers); discharge of untreated or partially treated industrial waste into natural water bodies and coal based power plants seem to be the main sources of pollution. The highly toxic waste from industrial units is being discharged into the natural water bodies without proper treatment which is a must according to law. This toxic water further contaminates the soil and dangerous substances enter our food chain.

Also, the data from All India Coordinated Research Project on Pesticide Residue clearly indicates the presence of DDT, HCH and BHC in cereals, milk, butter, fruits, vegetables and even infant formula samples from Punjab. The edibles have residues of other pesticides like Phosphamidon, Quinalphos, Chlorpyriphos, Endosulfan, Malathion, Parathion, Monocrotophos and lindane. This is an alarm bell for devastation in offing. Moreover the presence of pesticides in blood as detected by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also raises serious questions. The CSE report cites the presence of a cocktail of 6 to 13 pesticides in blood samples. CSE also finds organo-chlorine and residues of the newer and so-called ‘non-persistent’ pesticides, organophosphates, in blood. The rising levels of these dangerous chemicals in human bodies and bodies of other living beings, in the soil, water and food items, much beyond safe limits is the warning sign to take corrective steps urgently. This situation demands that pesticide-free food must be first offered to the people of Punjab.

The following must be done to keep a check:--

Testing the water samples from---

(a) The spot where an industrial unit is discharging its waste water.

(b) The natural water body in which the waste water is being discharged.

(c) The tube wells, rivers, canals and all other sources from where water is being drawn to be used for agricultural purposes as well as for consumption of animals and human beings.

(d) Water being supplied for drinking.

The water samples should be tested for the following---

(a) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

(b) Chemical Oxygen demand (COD).

(d) Total Suspended Matter.

(e) Total Dissolved Salts (TDS).

(f) Pesticides—Organochlorine, Organophosphorus, Carbamates and others.

(g) Heavy Metals and other toxins—mercury, arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, fluoride, zinc, iron, nitrates, radio active substances and other industrial and plastic based chemicals etc.

Samples of food –vegetables, fruits, fodder, grains, pulses, bovine milk, eggs and meat- should be tested for the levels of pesticides, heavy metals, other industrial toxins and radio active substances.
Samples of animal and human secretions and tissues—blood, urine, milk, saliva and mucuos membrane scrapings--- should be tested for levels of pesticides, heavy metals and for evidence of genetic mutations.
Epidemiological studies among the affected communities.
Planning remedial measures.
High levels of pesticides and heavy metals have been reported in the food chain and the human bodies but the doctors are unable to correlate it with the disease pattern prevalent in the community. The doctors should be sensitized/ trained to suspect the chronic poisoning and then to confirm it by testing the tissue levels. If the suspicion of chronic poisoning is strong enough to need further investigation then the Health Department should try to pin point the source of that poisoning in collaboration with PPCB, Public Health, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Departments.

Five types of evidence is clearly visible-

1. The levels of various toxins in the environment are very high.

2. The use of various toxins is unregulated and very high.

3. The levels of these toxins in the human tissues including breast milk are alarming.

4. There is an ample number of studies in the world scientific literature which correlate the levels of these toxins with specific clinical entities.

5. Similar clinical entities are clearly visible in our people who are living in the toxicity-affected environment.

We have enough indications/ evidences to raise the questions. We have to work hard on all the five levels to find answers to our problems. The task is very big. We have to work hard to find out the solutions. The problem of environmental health is very grave. It is particularly critical for the coming generations because there are clear evidences of toxicity induced genetic mutations. The effects on human reproductive system have been found to be very serious. There are clear indications that the toxic substances affected the reproductive system of species which have become extinct. The other visible effects on human health are--increase in the prevalence of toxicity related cancers, declining herd immunity and rising prevalence of infections, rising prevalence of neurological disorders, spontaneous abortions, congenital abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, heart and blood vessel diseases, asthma, allergies, auto immune disorders, menstrual disorders, declining sperm count and increasing prevalence of childless couples and host of other clinical entities which are directly or indirectly associated with environmental toxicity.

Similar pattern of ill health is visible in our cattle. The adverse effects on our crops and plant biodiversity are clearly visible. The adverse effects on our soil and water are also obvious. Human Health, Animal Health and Plant Health are part of a bigger concept of Health of all Living Beings. All of them share the same environment and are part of the same food chain. Health of all living beings is directly related to the health of soil, water and air. The whole ecosystem is one single entity and is being gravely affected by the activities around us. Highly delicate ecosystem is being gravely disturbed.

Let us join our heads and hands to save our ecosystem, environment, human health and our future generations.

Government / Health Institutions should immediately undertake a widespread and multi-centric epidemiological mapping through extensive and participatory research and pinpoint the environmental causes of chronic poisoning.
As Punjab has suffered the most severe ecological crisis, thus it needs a paradigm shift to prevent ecological suicide. The government should get an ecological audit to seek an analysis on ecological condition of Punjab. A high power working group should be constituted by involving independent experts to take up this study. This is indeed very important to get a clear picture of ecological damages and hence to evolve a strategy for ecological revival and environmental sustainability in Punjab.
A balance sheet regarding the collapse of Green Revolution also needs to be drawn. We need to know what went wrong with agriculture, so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. A post-mortem of the Green Revolution is absolutely necessary.
Research Project on Pesticide consumption and residue: As Punjab has one of highest levels of pesticide consumption in India, it subsequently has the highest pesticide load on its people and eco-system. Punjab is already facing severe adverse impacts of agro-chemicals used in last four decades. Now at this crucial juncture, the Punjab Government should take bold steps to ensure a safe environment and eco-system to the future of generations of Punjab. For this the Punjab Government should take these steps:

· Complete a detailed study on pesticide consumption patterns in Punjab and evaluate it in comparison to other states and countries. We should also compare its usefulness in comparison to non chemical models of agriculture.

· The government should immediately ban aggressive marketing of pesticides including all forms of advertisements, publicity and promotion schemes for pesticides and other agro-chemicals along with all incentives given to the pesticide and agro-chemical dealers’ network.

· Raise awareness about the dangers of pesticide use through well-financed education campaigns. These must ensure the dissemination of information regarding ill effects of pesticides to all users.

· The government should evolve an action plan for the immediate and time-bound phasing out of the most deadly pesticides: Class I A, I B and Ii.

· The vital task of properly compiling residue data, already generated by the agriculture universities should be completed.

· It is also very disappointing that the disease wise data collection is very poor in government hospitals and is almost non-existent in private hospitals. The registration of diseases should be made fool proof so that we can know the disease pattern of the community and try to find the underlying root cause.

· It is really disturbing to note that our mainstream health care system is mainly focused on giving palliative care to the sick and is least bothered about knowing the root causes of the diseases. It is a well known fact now that most of our diseases are directly or indirectly related to our environment. Hence this registry should be more strict and accurate in the case of diseases which are known to be the result of environmental degradation such as cancers; congenital abnormalities; spontaneous abortions and other clinical entities related with reproductive system; cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and other handicaps; infectious diseases and all other patients needing indoor treatment. All deaths including still births should be investigated in detail including their tissue levels of pesticides and heavy metals.

Declare ecological and environmental health emergency in Malwa: The southwestern Malwa region has been identified as facing the most severe environmental health crisis. The use of toxic chemicals is the highest in this belt. This entire area should be treated as a toxic hot spot. To focus its efforts, the government must declare and impose immediately the state of ecological and environmental health emergency in the entire belt. For this, specially drawn plans are needed with a specific focus on natural and organic farming, with adequately allocated funds for the targeted problem.

Constitute Environmental Health Crisis Mitigation Task Force: Even while the assessment is being done, an environmental health crisis of this intensity can only be mitigated by large scale community intervention and participation. Thus the governments should form an Environmental Health Crisis Mitigation Task Force under the aegis of Institute for Environmental Health Research and Studies with the majority participation from NGOs and farmer groups. A senior epidemiologist or environmentalist should head this task force with powers minimum of the secretary rank of the government. This task force should be constituted by taking members from medical fraternity, social activists, and teachers of life sciences, farmers and experts from various governmental departments.

The primary work of this task force would be to prepare and implement a Comprehensive Relief and Remedial Programme in the acutely affected areas. The entire medical fraternity and medical students must be involved in this programme to rejuvenate the health of the community. The medical fraternity needs to be sensitized and suitably augmented to include specific content on toxicology and contemporary crisis of environmental health.

Sustainable Agriculture:

a) The agriculture of Punjab needs a fresh vision for its sustainability as well as sustainability of natural resources. To take up this issue with urgent priority

THE PUNJAB GOVERNMENT should formulate a policy and action plan with a fixed time frame to promote sustainable agricultural practices and various eco-friendly methods of farming. Special budget allocations should be made available for the purpose.

b) THE PUNJAB GOVERNMENT should ask Union Government to immediately ban at least those pesticides that have been banned in other countries and all Class 1a and Class 1b pesticides

c) Subsidy on chemical fertilizers should be diverted to organic farming subsidies and for subsidizing labour component required for conversion to organic farming. This will actually imply a lot of savings for the government
d) Soil should be tested at regular intervals and the prescriptions given by the government should be organic with a variety of organic options provided for addressing the specific conditions of a particular soil sample
e) Government should ensure that successful experiences of organic farmers in Punjab and other states should be documented and highlighted. The expertise of organic farmers should be utilized for the formulation of agriculture policies and they should be used as resource persons for further outreach
f) Agriculture department of Punjab should take up adaptive trials and promote organic farming, without having to wait for long-term research findings from PAU on specific components of organic farming or on specific inputs, as is the case in several other states. There should be large scale promotion of organic farming by the creation of appropriate materials including translation of experiences from other states into punjabi.

Political Parties must respond to Ecological and Environmental Health Crisis: The mess of multiple ecological and health crisis is creation of wrong governmental policies, bewildered political vision and incorrect precedence of governance. The Governments must respond to rectify it. All political parties must come-up with their vision of Environmental Governance. Environmental governance capability in each political party is must and more essential prerequisite for good and holistic governance. It was experienced in last two decades that the issues of the environment have not been effectively integrated in overall development planning and programmes. The development paradigm clearly lacks Ecological Concerns. Instead, the most frequent thought is that environmental securities curbs and antagonize the mainstream economic and social development. In the face of this attitude, citizens, encouraged by certain civil society activists are developing ecological and sustainable empowerment strategies for sustainable development. Governments in last one decade Punjab are miserably failed on this front and particularly in context of multiple environmental toxicity and environmental health crisis and especially cancer governmental apathy, callousness and non-committal to their own words widened the scope of problem and deepened the ecological crisis.

Environmental governance is a concept in Political Ecology which is needed to achieve ecological sustainability and environmental security. All human activities -- political, social and economic — should be understood and managed as subsets of the environment and ecosystems. There is urgent need is to make the shift from the current situation where ecology is a subset of economy, to one in which economy is a subset of ecology. Environmental Governance includes Governments along with business and civil society. Political parties have to develop their in-house capacities to deliver Environmental Governance too.

In context of above said KVM along with other likeminded organizations appeal to all political parties: To declare their agenda and action plan for Organic Farming , Ecological Crisis and Environmental Health along with other components of genuine pro people agenda well before the assembly elections.

Each Political Party of Punjab must constitute Environment Cell in their Political Set-up and each political party of Punjab must come-up with their Environmental Policies, so that voters can evaluate political parties on ‘Ecological Merit’ also.

Multilogue on Sociopolitical Agenda on Environmental toxicity, Health, Agriculture and Ecological Crisis in Punjab

Friday-Saturday: 28-29 October 2011
Venue: Seminar Hall, CRRID, Madya Marg, Chandigarh

Safe Environment, Safe Food and Ecological Sustainability are the right of People of Punjab.

Let us evolve Environmental Governance in Punjab

Tentative Program

Day -1: Friday 28^th Oct.
Registration :10 to 11.00 AM
Inaugural Session 11.00 to 1.30 Compering : Hemant Goswami	Inaugural Address by Sunita Narayan Keynote by Dr S G Kabra	Sunita Narayan , Dr S G Kabra , Dr Sucha Singh Gill, Dr Inderjeet Kaur
Lunch	1.30 PM to 2.15
Session -2 2.15 PM to 4.00 Compering : Hamir Singh	Toxicity of Environment, Ecology, Biodiversity and Natural Resources	Dr Jagmohan Singh Gopal Krishan Sant Balbir Singh Seenchewal Madhu Sareen Sukhdev Singh Bhopal Kamal Sharma
Tea	4 to 4.30 PM
Session -3 4.30 to 6.30 PM Comparing :	Health and Multiple Environmental Toxicity	Dr Inderjit Kaur Dr S G Kabra Dr J S Thakur Dr Sudhirendar Sharma
Session-4 7.00 to 8.30 PM Compering : Shubh Prem Brar	International Political Economy and Political Ecology	Shri Arun Shrivastav Dr Amar Singh Azad Dr Shalina Mehta Hemant Goswami
Dinner : 8.30 PM

Day-2 : Saturday 29^th Oct.
Session -5 9.00 AM to 11.00 Compering :	Agriculture and Rural Livelihood	Davinder Sharma Dr Sucha Singh Gill Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan Dr Satnam Singh Ajnala
Tea : 11.00 to 11.30 AM
Session -6 11.30 to 1.30 PM Compering : Dr Amar Singh Azad	Political Agenda for Future : Policy shift and evolving Environmental Governance And Eco-Economics	Chander Bhushan Dr R S Ghumman Dr Sudhirendar Sharma Avinash Rai Khanna MP Sukhpal Khaira MLA Gopal Krishan
Lunch :1.30 to 2.15 PM
Concluding Session 2.15 to 4.00 PM Compering : Umendra Dutt		Gobind Thukral Madhu Sareen Sukhdev Bhopal Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan

List of other political leaders shall be finalized shortly

PPCB Seminar on Cancer : Wrong understanding and Misleading Conclusions made Confusions darker

2011-10-07T19:31:00.001+05:30

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION

Kheti Virasat Mission's Response to Punjab Pollution Control Board's Workshop on Prevalence of Cancer in Punjab

Wrong understanding and Misleading Conclusions made Confusions darker

Punjab Pollution Control Board organised a workshop on Prevalence of Cancer in Punjab on 12.9.2011 at Shivalik Hotel Chandigarh. It had a prior fixed notion that the number of cancer cases in Punjab has not increased as is being put up by some NGOs and the media. Meaning thereby that there is nothing to worry and unnecessary scare is being created by NGOs and the media. It had also a fixed notion that environmental toxicity has nothing to do with the prevalence of Cancers and that the Cancers are caused by tobacco and alcohol consumption.

The official version of Punjab Government was also shared that Industry's contribution to environmental/ water pollution was only twenty percent and eighty percent is contributed by city/ town sewers. Another important point in the official version was that agro chemicals are un avoidable. We have to use them to feed the people of our country. One more important point in the official version was that Uranium found in the environment of Punjab is no problem at all and we should not bother about it. Unnecessary scare is being created by some NGOs and the media.

All these points were thoroughly discussed in the seminar/ workshop. Official versions were seriously questioned/ challenged by participants. Very sound arguments were given to prove that all these versions do not match with the latest research in our country and other countries including USA and Europe. While releasing the conclusions of the workshop only official/ sarkari version which are based on old and one sided understanding were given to the media. These views are out dated and have been repeatedly proved wrong. The views of large number of participants have been blacked out. As a result very wrong and distorted message has been conveyed to the people of Punjab/ India. To put the record straight we briefly give the opinions of those who differed with the official version.

1. Regarding Number of Cases of Cancer in Punjab: Despite having huge infrastructure and staff the Health Department is yet not able to get proper figures of cancer incidence. The lone epidemiological study on cancer done by PGIMER and sponsored by PPCB was discredited by the government itself. Irony is this that Mr Satish Chandra who addressed the Workshop told the audience – “PGIMER study is not conclusive, it does not say that pesticides are responsible for cancer”, “PAU has opposed the study”. This reflects that a massive confusion and misinformation is prevailing in official circles. Since, there are no authentic figures of cancer cases with health department. No data regarding the prevalence of cancer cases 20-30 years back is there. Similarly no data is available about the prevalence of cancer cases now. Whatever figures are available are hospital based figures. No body has ever seriously tried to analyse even this data comparing the cancer cases 30 years back and now. There is no Population Based Registry in any region of Punjab at present which can only be the authentic source of data on Cancers in Punjab or Malwa region of Punjab. The only study regarding prevalence of Cancers was done by PGI Chandigarh. The original study (we have the copy) showed clearly that Cancer prevalence in Malwa was double as compared to rest of the Punjab. Cancer cases from Malwa are going to Rajasthan for treatment. The analysis of the data of these hospitals showed clearly that the toxicity related cancers are much more as compared to tobacco related cancers. We can not form an authentic view about the prevalence of cancers in Malwa or Punjab in the absence of studies/ a well organised Community Based Cancer Registry. The media has projected the voice of people and NGOs which is based on the increased number of cases as compared to 20-30 years back which no study/department has ever tried to verify. Even the illiterate villages are able to appreciate the tremendous increase in the prevalence of cancers and other serious illnesses in these villages. Strangely those in the chairs of administration and political power do not want to see it.

2. Environmental Toxicity and Cancers: Cancer is not single disease. There are three distinct types of cancers depending on the causation--one -those associated with use of tobacco; second-those which are associated with pesticides and other environmental toxins and third are those associated with radiations. The cancers associated with tobacco consumption are less in Punjab as compared to rest of the country because of the less consumption of tobacco here. The toxicity related cancers are much more in Punjab. There are clear indications of genetic mutations and lowered immunity which means that the number of cancer cases will increase even more in the future.

More over cancers are not an acute disease which come as dramatic epidemic and then go away if the cause is removed. Cancers are caused by 15-20 years of constant exposure to carcinogenic chemicals/ radiations. But once they start coming they will go on rising for decades and centuries to come even if the cause has been removed. One more fact should be remembered-if an individual is exposed to carcinogenic chemicals/ radiations, the possibility of developing cancer will not be the sum total of the two. A well known example is-a smoker has 11 times possibility of developing Lung Cancer as compared to non smoker, while an Asbestos Worker has 5 times possibility as compared to non worker. A person who is Asbestos Worker as well as Smoker should have 16 times possibility of developing Lung Cancer. But actually it is 55 times. That means that a smoker of a community who is affected by toxicity has much more chances of developing smoking based cancers as compared to an individual of a community not affected by toxicity and vice versa.

3. Industrial Pollution is not a serious issue: The rulers are trying to sell the idea that we need not be serious about industrial pollution but focus our selves on developing treatment plants for cities and towns. It is not the question of quantity of waste water which is being thrown into fresh water sources but the quality. The city sewers, if they contain only domestic waste water do not contain much of dangerous chemicals except synthetic detergents and plastic envelops. But the reality is that many industries also throw their waste water into the city sewers making them highly poisonous. The domestic water contains human and animal excreta. It can cause infectious diseases but can not change the chemical composition of the water. Today the bigger problem in Punjab is the dangerous chemicals in the water which come from industry only. The official version that 80% pollution is caused by Domestic Waste is naked lie being propagated to hide the criminal behavior of our industry and our politicians/ bureaucrats who provide them shelter to commit grave crimes against the humanity and nature. There are large number of industries who are using old and out dated techniques or are manufacturing such dangerous products whose waste can not even be processed. They will have to stop using those techniques. The problem of Industrial waste water is highly complex and each industry has to be dealt individually. Many industries which are doing more harm than good may have to be closed to save the environment and life.

4. Uranium found in the environment/ water of Punjab is not a serious problem: Recently uranium has been detected in significantly higher concentrations that the safe limits. Instead of finding the source of the uranium, the PPCB is trying to propagate the idea that there is nothing serious about it with the help of a physicist of Punjab University. Punjab Government / PPCB should try to understand the problem much more seriously than depending on one physicist whose arguments are very superficial and one sided. . Two very senior scientists present in the seminar, who has a long experience and has studied the consequences of Coal Based Thermal Power Plants, vehemently opposed the opinion of the physicist were totally ignored by the PPCB's Official version released to the media. We should seriously and sincerely go deep into the finding of excessive amounts of Uranium in the water / environment. If thermal plants come out to be the cause we should oppose the installation of too many new Coal Based Thermal Power Plants in a small state like Punjab. Many studies in USA / Europe and recently a study of Chanderpur Super Thermal Plant in Maharashtra have already proved that burning of too much coal cause very serious environmental pollution including that by Uranium.

5. Agro Chemical – Pesticides are un avoidable: This is lie which has been spoken so often that it seems true to all of us. No Agriculture University in India including PAU Ludhiana has ever tried to make a parallel research on non chemical agricultural practices. When too many studies have indicted pesticides and synthetic fertilisers of causing grave damage to human/ animal health and environment, NGOs and Agricultural Scientists started to experiment on organic/ natural farming. Now on the initiative of NGOs it has been proven beyond any doubt that agrochemicals are not needed for producing crops. It has proved in lacs of acres of land that organic and natural farming are not only sustainable but are urgent need in all the countries including India. Even FAO has categorically stated that entire humanity can be fed on organic without any serious consequence.

There is a serious degradation of environment of Punjab with grave consequences on health of humans/ animals, biodiversity, natural resources and other socio-economic / cultural aspects. We are amidst a serious environmental toxicity and civilisational crisis. We should not try to avoid and postpone the search for truth. We must launch an JAN ANDOLAN to mitigate and find a permanent solution. Kheti Virasat Mission is going to organise a two day workshop on ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND ITS SOCIOPOLITICAL SOLUTIONS on 28-29 October in CRRID Chandigarh. All political parties, Social, Cultural Organisations, NGOs, Kisan Organisations and individuals will be invited to attend it. The purpose is to try to make Environmental Degradation as ELECTION ISSUE in the coming ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS.

KVM suggestions to PPCB : Build Community participation and Action Research system for Mitigating Environmental Health Crisis in Punjab

2011-10-07T19:22:00.002+05:30

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION

Suggestions submitted to Punjab Pollution Control Board by Kheti Virasat Mission and its affiliate Environmental Health Action Group on the eve of Workshop on Incidence of Cancer in Punjab held at Hotel Shivalik, Chandigarh on 12 September 2011.

Build Community participation and Action Research system for Mitigating Environmental Health Crisis in Punjab

Proposals for a Time Bound Action Plan to be executed by Punjab Pollution Control Board, Health Department, Other Government/ Semi Government Departments, Universities and NGOs with active participation of the community.

The action plan should be executed/monitored/coordinated by a Joint Action Committee of all the participants. Its functioning should be totally transparent. The activities and results should be shared with the people through the media periodically. We need to do the following things on priority basis:

The following must be done to keep a check:--

Testing the water samples from---

(a) The spot where an industrial unit is discharging its waste water.

(b) The natural water body in which the waste water is being discharged.

(c) The tube wells, rivers, canals and all other sources from where water is being drawn to be used for agricultural purposes as well as for consumption of animals and human beings.

(d) Water being supplied for drinking.

The water samples should be tested for the following---

(a) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

(b) Chemical Oxygen demand (COD).

(d) Total Suspended Matter.

(e) Total Dissolved Salts (TDS).

(f) Pesticides—Organochlorine, Organophosphorus, Carbamates and others.

(g) Heavy Metals and other toxins—mercury, arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, fluoride, zinc, iron, nitrates, radio active substances and other industrial and plastic based chemicals etc.

Samples of food –vegetables, fruits, fodder, grains, pulses, bovine milk, eggs and meat- should be tested for the levels of pesticides, heavy metals, other industrial toxins and radio active substances.
Samples of animal and human secretions and tissues—blood, urine, milk, saliva and mucous membrane scrapings--- should be tested for levels of pesticides, heavy metals and for evidence of genetic mutations.
Epidemiological studies among the affected communities.
Planning remedial measures.
High levels of pesticides and heavy metals have been reported in the food chain and the human bodies but the doctors are unable to correlate it with the disease pattern prevalent in the community. The doctors should be sensitized/ trained to suspect the chronic poisoning and then to confirm it by testing the tissue levels. If the suspicion of chronic poisoning is strong enough to need further investigation then the Health Department should try to pin point the source of that poisoning in collaboration with PPCB, Public Health, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Departments.

Five types of evidence is clearly visible-

1. The levels of various toxins in the environment are very high.

2. The use of various toxins is unregulated and very high.

3. The levels of these toxins in the human tissues including breast milk are alarming.

4. There is an ample number of studies in the world scientific literature which co relate the levels of these toxins with specific clinical entities.

5. Similar clinical entities are clearly visible in our people who are living in the toxicity-affected environment.

We have enough indications/ evidences to raise the questions. We have to work hard on all the five levels to find answers to our problems. The task is very big. We have to join our hands and heads to find out the solutions. The problem of environmental health is very grave. It is particularly grave for the coming generations because there are clear evidences of toxicity induced genetic mutations. The effects on human reproductive system have been found to be very serious. There are clear indications that the toxic substances affected the reproductive system of species which have become extinct. The other visible effects on human health are--increase in the prevalence of toxicity related cancers, declining herd immunity and rising prevalence of infections, rising prevalence of neurological disorders, spontaneous abortions, congenital abnormalities, diabetes mellitus, heart and blood vessel diseases, asthma, allergies, auto immune disorders, menstrual disorders, declining sperm count and increasing prevalence of childless couples and host of other clinical entities which are directly or indirectly associated with environmental toxicity.

Let us join our heads and hands to save our ecosystem, environment, human health and our future generations.

Government has resolved to undertake a widespread and multi-centric environmental epidemiological mapping through an extensive study and participatory research.
As Punjab has suffered the most severe ecological crisis, thus it needs a paradigm shift to prevent ecological suicide. The government has proposed a first ever ecological audit to seek an analysis on ecological condition of Punjab. A high power working group shall be constituted by involving independent experts to take up this study. This is indeed very important to get a clear picture of ecological damages and hence to evolve a strategy for ecological revival and environmental sustainability in Punjab.
A balance sheet regarding the collapse of Green Revolution also needs to be drawn. We need to know what went wrong with agriculture, so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. A post-mortem of the Green Revolution is absolutely necessary.
Research Project on Pesticide consumption and residue: As Punjab has one of highest levels of pesticide consumption in India, it subsequently has the highest pesticide load on its people and eco-system. Punjab is already facing severe adverse impacts of agro-chemicals used in last four decades. Now at this crucial juncture, the Punjab Government should take bold steps to ensure a safe environment and eco-system to the future of generations of Punjab. For this the Punjab Government should take these steps:

· Complete a detailed study on pesticide consumption patterns in Punjab.

· Raise awareness about the dangers of pesticide use through well-financed education campaigns. These must ensure the dissemination of information regarding ill effects of pesticides to all users.

· The government should evolve an action plan for the immediate and time-bound phasing out of the most deadly pesticides: Class I A, I B and Ii.

· The vital task of properly compiling residue data, already generated by the agriculture universities should be completed.

The disease wise data collection is very poor in government hospitals and is almost non-existent in private hospitals. The registration of diseases should be made fool proof so that we can know the disease pattern of the community and try to find the underlying root cause.

It is really disturbing to note that our mainstream health care system is mainly focused on giving palliative care to the sick and is least bothered about knowing the root cause of a disease. It is a well known fact now that most of our diseases are directly or indirectly related to our environment. Hence this registry should be more strict and accurate in the case of diseases which are known to be the result of environmental degradation such as cancers; congenital abnormalities; spontaneous abortions and other clinical entities related with reproductive system; cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism and other handicaps; infectious diseases and all other patients needing indoor treatment. All deaths including still births should be investigated in detail including their tissue levels of pesticides and heavy metals.

Safe food for Punjabis: The data from All India Coordinated Research Project on Pesticide Residue clearly indicates the presence of DDT, HCH and BHC in cereals, milk, butter, fruits, vegetables and even infant formula samples from Punjab. The edibles have residues of other pesticides like Phosphamidon, Quinalphos, Chlorpyriphos, Endosulfan, Malathion, Parathion, Monocrotophos and lindane. This is an alarm bell for devastation in offing. Moreover the presence of pesticides in blood as detected by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also raises serious questions. The CSE report cites the presence of a cocktail of 6 to 13 pesticides in blood samples. CSE also finds organo-chlorine and residues of the newer and so-called ‘non-persistent’ pesticides, organophosphates, in blood. The rising levels of these dangerous chemicals in human bodies and bodies of other living beings, in the soil, water and food items, much beyond safe limits is the warning sign to take corrective steps urgently. This situation demands that pesticide-free food must be first offered to the people of Punjab.

Declare ecological and environmental health emergency in Malwa: The southwestern Malwa region has been identified as facing the most severe environmental health crisis. The use of toxic chemicals is the highest in this belt. This entire area should be treated as a toxic hot spot. To focus its efforts, the government must declare and impose immediately the state of ecological and environmental health emergency in the entire belt. For this, specially drawn plans are needed with a specific focus on natural and organic farming, with adequately allocated funds for the targeted problem.

Environmental Health Crisis Mitigation Task Force: Even while the assessment is being done, an environmental health crisis of this intensity can only be mitigated by large scale community intervention and participation. Thus the new government should form an Environmental Health Crisis Mitigation Task Force under the aegis of Institute for Environmental Health Research and Studies with the majority participation from NGOs and farmer groups. A senior epidemiologist or environmentalist should head this task force with powers minimum of the secretary rank of the government. This task force should be constituted by taking members from medical fraternity, social activists, and teachers of life sciences, farmers and experts from various governmental departments.

Press Release - Monsanto Quit India Campaign

2011-10-07T19:18:00.000+05:30

Press Release

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION

Monsanto Quit India Campaign

Kheti Khurak Azaadi Jatha

9^th to 17^th August 2011

Kheti Khuraak Azaadi Jatha got massive support by farmers against food and Agriculture Imperialism

Urgent need to form a Grand Coalition of farmers- Consumers to protect Food Sovereignty of Nation

Bathinda, August 11^th 2011: Launching a scathing attack on successive governments’ faulty agricultural policies and the increasing corporatisation of our food and farming systems, several farmers’ leaders and environmental activists demanded that political parties in Punjab must spell out their vision and road map for Punjabi farming. They pronounced the government as anti-farmer given its secret deal struck with Monsanto in a Public-Private-Partnership whereby the government is facilitating the expansion of the market for Monsanto, a large American MNC. They also condemned the fact that the government is not taking a pro-active stand against Genetically Modified (GM) seeds even though the ill-effects of intensive models of agriculture with chemicals and GM seeds are there for everyone to see in Punjab.

“While other states are charting out more sustainable pathways of development for their farmers based on lessons of disaster gleaned from Punjab and other such places, it is extremely unfortunate that our policy-makers in the state are unwilling to acknowledge or learn from our mistakes. While the agri-chemicals mistake continues, the danger of GM is being sought to be perpetrated now. For reasons that are unscientific, ill-informed or vested, the Punjab government is not hesitating to take an anti-farmer and anti-Nature stand once again when it comes to GM crops. While other states are disallowing open air field trials of GM crops after taking a considered policy view on the matter, Punjab is reported to be in favor of such trials in the state! There is ample evidence to show that GM crops are hazardous in a variety of ways and particular products like Monsanto’s GM maize, allowed for field trials in the state, pose many health and environmental risks. It is high time that the Punjab government realized that field trials are trials essentially of untested products, with a technology that is living, irreversible and uncontrollable once it is released into the environment even in the name of trials. We demand that the government disallow all such trials in this state”, said Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission.

Speakers addressing the Press Conference condemned the partnerships that the state government has entered into with Monsanto, in the name of improving maize productivity. Farmers’ leaders supporting Monsanto Quit India Campaign said, “With regard to Monsanto in particular, the state government should be aware of its long history of crimes against humanity, by its production and marketing of many toxic chemicals and other hazardous products. On its way to becoming the world's largest seed company, Monsanto used several strategies including deploying technology that reduces possibility of farmers re-using their seed, legal frameworks that prevent farmers and researchers free and open access to seed and aggressive, monopolistic market maneuvers that suppressed competition. Monsanto did not shy away from resorting to bribery for getting regulatory approvals. Monsanto had at one point reportedly even stated its goal thus: ‘No food shall be grown that we do not own’, reflecting its profiteering ambitions. This company has not hesitated to sue and jail farmers for the ‘crime’ of saving and re-using seed from their crops and wanted to enforce its patents even in cases of genetic contamination clearly taking away from the affected farmer's rights! Monsanto and its associates have not hesitated to sue governments in this country in pursuit of their profits and markets. How is the government hoping that farmers would benefit from the expansion of this company, its products and markets? What happened to all the investments that went into the public sector research on maize all these years, if they cannot be reached to the farmers?”.

Speakers also announced plans of holding a public debate with all political parties to gauge their depth of understanding and vision for farming in Punjab, in the run up to the elections and hoped that no party would keep away from such a debate. The 4 main questions to be debated in this forum would be: how would the party ensure income security and stability for all farmers of the state?; how would the party ensure environmental sustainability of our productive resources without which farm livelihoods will be jeopardized?; what is the party’s stand on upholding farmers’ rights over their productive resources like land, water and seed?; what is the party’s road map towards promising all citizens safe, diverse and nutritious food?

The Kheti Khurak Azadi Jatha - a caravan around the state to build a people’s movement to protect our food, farmers and freedom has so far covered six districts. Started from Ludhiana on 9^th August the Kheti Khuraak Azaadi Jatha would traverse around twelve districts of Punjab before ending on the 17^th of August at Malerkotla.

Save Agriculture and Farmers : Open letter to CM Punjab on Corporate takeover of Agriculture in Punjab

2011-10-07T19:11:00.002+05:30

KHETI VIRASAT MISSION
Kheti Khurak Azaadi Jatha
9 to 17 August 2011

Open letter to CM Punjab on Corporate takeover of Agriculture in Punjab

Shri Parkash Singh Badal,
Hon'ble Chief Minister,
Government of Punjab

Dear Sir,

Sub: Promotion of community level self-reliance in our farming - Scrapping of any partnerships with Monsanto, its associates and such corporations .

As Punjab has played one of the most vital and significance role in freedom struggle it is extremely important for people of Punjab to continue the same spirit to protect our precious freedom, national pride and sovereignty. It is our duty to protect to honor the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters. Sir our country is again under threat of neo-imperialism – food and agricultural colonialism.
Sir, On Quit India Day this year, thousands of Indians are awakening to the dangers related to increasing corporate takeover of our food and farming systems. This in turn is impoverishing our farmers, increasing their cost of cultivation, reducing choices for them, eroding their productive resources and enslaving them into a treadmill of dependence on external agencies, especially powerful agri-business corporations. The Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) - an informal network of more than 400 organisations around the country, in its efforts to save our Food, Farmers and Freedom decided to focus on the most potent and obvious symbol of corporate aggression on our food and farming: Monsanto, the American agri-business MNC. This year, August 9th is being marked by hundreds of organisations and thousands of citizens as "Monsanto, Quit India Day” all over the country.
In Punjab ASHA Punjab chapter is organizing Kheti Khurak Azaadi Jatha - A caravan around the state to build a people’s movement to protect our food, farmers and freedom was announced by the organizers. Starting from Ludhiana, the Kheti Khuraak Azaadi Jatha would traverse around all districts of Punjab before ending on the 17th of August at Naamdhari Shaheedi Samarak at Malerkotla.

With regard to Monsanto in particular, you would be kindly aware of its long history of crimes against humanity, by its production and marketing of many toxic chemicals and other hazardous products. On its way to becoming the world's largest seed company, Monsanto used several strategies including deploying technology that reduces possibility of farmers re-using their seed, legal frameworks that prevent farmers and researchers free and open access to seed and aggressive, monopolistic market maneuvers that suppressed competition. Monsanto did not shy away from resorting to bribery for getting regulatory approvals. You might know that Monsanto had at one point reportedly stated its goal thus: "No food shall be grown that we do not own", reflecting its profiteering ambitions. This company has not hesitated to sue and jail farmers for the "crime" of saving and re-using seed from their crops and wanted to enforce its patents even in cases of genetic contamination clearly taking away from the affected farmer's rights! Monsanto and its associates have not hesitated to sue governments in this country in pursuit of their profits and markets.

In India too, Monsanto is consolidating its position and state governments appear to be insensitive to the need to uphold farmers' rights and seed sovereignty; they seem to be apathetic and insensitive to issues related to food safety and consumer choices and are in fact actually supporting expansion of Monsanto’s markets by investing taxpayers’

In this context, there are a few things that we would like to draw your kind attention towards:

While other states are charting out more sustainable pathways of development for their farmers based on lessons of disaster gleaned from Punjab and other such places, it is extremely unfortunate that our policy-makers in the state are unwilling to acknowledge or learn from our mistakes. While the agri-chemicals mistake continues, the danger of GM is being sought to be perpetrated now. For reasons that are either unscientific, ill-informed or vested, the Punjab government is not hesitating to take an anti-farmer and anti-Nature stand once again when it comes to GM crops. While other states are disallowing open air field trials of GM crops after taking a considered policy view on the matter, Punjab is reported to be in favor of such trials in the state! There is ample evidence to show that GM crops are hazardous in a variety of ways and particular products like Monsanto’s GM maize, allowed for field trials in the state, pose many health and environmental risks. It is high time that the Punjab government realized that field trials are trials essentially of untested products, with a technology that is living, irreversible and uncontrollable once it is released into the environment even in the name of trials. We demand that the government disallow all such trials in this state

Sir , We would like to strongly convey our views with regard to Monsanto in particular, the state government should be aware of its long history of crimes against humanity, by its production and marketing of many toxic chemicals and other hazardous products. On its way to becoming the world's largest seed company, Monsanto used several strategies including deploying technology that reduces possibility of farmers re-using their seed, legal frameworks that prevent farmers and researchers free and open access to seed and aggressive, monopolistic market maneuvers that suppressed competition. Monsanto did not shy away from resorting to bribery for getting regulatory approvals. Monsanto had at one point reportedly even stated its goal thus: ‘No food shall be grown that we do not own’, reflecting its profiteering ambitions. This company has not hesitated to sue and jail farmers for the ‘crime’ of saving and re-using seed from their crops and wanted to enforce its patents even in cases of genetic contamination clearly taking away from the affected farmer's rights! Monsanto and its associates have not hesitated to sue governments in this country in pursuit of their profits and markets. How is the government hoping that farmers would benefit from the expansion of this company, its products and markets? What happened to all the investments that went into the public sector research on maize all these years, if they cannot be reached to the farmers?”.

We urge you to cancel all agreements that the Punjab government has, with various corporations like Monsanto, Mahyco, Bayer etc., and disallow any GM crop research and trials in the state.

Sincerely,
Umendra Dutt
Executive Director

Green Agenda for Sustainable Punjab

2011-10-07T13:38:00.002+05:30

An open letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab S. Parkash Singh Badal

To,

S. Parkash Singh Badal,

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab,

CHANDIGARH

Subject: Appeal to adopt Green Agenda to ensure sustainability of Punjab

Dear Sir,

On the onset let us congratulate you on being once again elected the Chief Minister of the State of Punjab.

As concerned citizens of this state, proud of its heritage as a land of “Jawans and Kissans”, we wish to bring to your attention a matter of utmost seriousness, that needs to be taken up as the first and foremost priority.

The land of Punjab and its life support systems - its soil, water, air, environment and consequently the health of its people is going through an unprecedented crisis. This is affecting its agriculture, ecology and economic development.
The SAD-BJP Government has taken the reins of governance, at a very crucial juncture, when the ecological crisis, that is cancerously destroying the strength and social fabric of the state, is at its peak.

We appeal, with a lot of hope and expectations, that this government will take the great responsibility or rather play a historic role in evolving a “Green Agenda for a Sustainable Punjab”.

Many of us have been giving a lot of thought on this matter and together we have now put this note – Agenda for a Sustainable Green Punjab. We are proposing this agenda with the strong appeal that there is no other way Punjab can be revived, except through reviving its most fundamental strength – its ecology. All other development sectors and the overall growth of the state depend on this life support system.

We hope that your government will take this note as a guiding document and shoulder the responsibility of carrying Punjab on a path of sustainable development, environmental security and imperishable prosperity, a land free from debts, farmers’ suicides, an environmental health crisis, and the destruction of nature and ecosystems.

Please see enclosed the proposed “Green Agenda for Sustainable Punjab.”

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours truly,

Umendra Dutt Prof Gurdayal Singh
Executive Director Punjabi Novelist
Kheti Virasat Mission Recipient of the PadamShri and GyanPeeth Award

This letter is also signed by:

Dr Surjeet Patar Sant Balbir Singh Seenchewal
President Savior of KaliBein
Punjabi Sahitya Academy Nirmal Kutiya, Sultanpur Lodhi

Prof Atamjeet Gurdas Maan
Punjabi Playwright Punjabi Singer

Dr. Bibi Inderjit Kaur Dr. Satish Jain
Chairperson Director
Pingalwara Charitable Society M.D. Oswal Cancer Hospital
Amritsar Ludhiana

Dr G P I Singh Dr. Prem Khosla
Convener, Convener
Environmental Health Action Group Social Sciences & Health Forum
Professor of Community Medicine Professor of Pharmacology
Dayanand Medical College & Hospital Gyan Sagar Medical College
Ludhiana Banur, Patiala

Gobind Thukral Shameel
Senior Journalist Editor, Daily Desh Sewak

Satnaam Singh Manak Pankaj Jain Advocate
Journalist Convener, Punjab Environmental Justice Alliance

Green Agenda for Sustainable Punjab Introduction

The survival of the human being as a species is totally dependent on our surroundings, which is actually a complex set of processes in dynamic equilibrium. Any activity that human beings do for development – from simple hand tilling to complex industrial activity – must be anchored on environmental and ecological guidelines, and not just on economic output or increasing production. But if our actions are destructive, pollutive and exploitative, they will eventually destabilize the dynamic equilibrium of our surroundings and we will face a crisis, which will severely impact not just the environment, but overall progress. Punjab is facing such a situation, where many of our present ways of development are becoming more and more environmentally destabilizing. The worst of this crisis is now felt in the farming sector, where farmers, with huge economic debts are suffering from diseases – physical, mental and social – on an epidemic scale. Such a situation leads to mental fatigue and eventually taking the unfathomable and drastic decisions like committing suicide or other forms of violence within and outside the family. At the same time, we are also irreparably destroying our ecological foundations that have been sustaining our food, water and healthy environment, not only for all human beings but for all living beings. Ultimately, we are taking our land, its environment and its people to an imminent ecological and economic disaster.

The environment of Punjab is no longer safe for human survival. We must analyze where we have erred. The success of a development agenda that the government and its people want for the state will depend on whether we correct our past mistakes or not. The development agenda will now have to include intelligently planned, conscious activities for the revival and restoration of our ecological foundation. The primary task of the new government would hence have to start with an assessment of the ecological disaster. We then have to rediscover the natural environmental design of the state and agree upon its potentials and limitations. We have to take stock of approaches and plans which have gone wrong and reach a common consensus on the corrective priority actions. Then, we have to take steps on a war-footing, for ecological restorative activities, that would include social and environmental remedies to restore human health. We should establish guidelines and policies, followed by necessary Acts and institutions regarding the future management of these life support systems, so that we do not repeat the mistakes which jeopardize our survival. This would mean policies that take a broad look at our development paradigm (model) vis-à-vis environmental security and address the sectors of agriculture, health, education, social welfare, food, water and industrial development.

It is in this context that we wish to draw the attention of the government to the following:

Ecologically Sustainable Punjab

The first thing we must acknowledge is that only an ecologically sustainable Punjab can be economically sustainable. A good economy comes out of good ecology. The approach that has been followed, especially in the last three decades, is to bring in economic development at any cost. An analysis will reveal that it is this approach that has actually led to the present crisis.

Vision document for Sustainable Green Punjab: The very first step that the new government needs to initiate is to prepare a vision document for a sustainable green Punjab. In Punjab the success of the agriculture sector is directly linked to the ecological security. Hence, this document should specifically look at the issue of ecological and agricultural sustainability. Such an attempt will need a paradigm shift in approach and thinking. The following chapters will help guide this vision document. Environment

To assess and re-mediate the environment in the state and to secure a good foundation for the beneficial and sustainable progress, the following is suggested:

Ecological Audit: As Punjab has suffered the most severe ecological crisis, a paradigm shift to save from ecological suicide is obligatory. The government must initiate the first-ever ecological audit of the state’s resources and life support systems. This will give us a status picture of the ecological condition of Punjab. We must know the quality of land, water and air being consumed by each Punjabi. A high-power working group with independent experts and headed by an eminent environmentalist should be constituted for this audit. The audit study should also recommend strategies for ecological revival and environmental sustainability of Punjab.

Punjab State Environment Commission: The SAD-BJP Government should constitute a ‘Punjab State Environment Commission’ as a statutory body. The proposed Environment Commission would be the first of its kind in India. The Environment Commission shall work as the highest agency for all issues related to environment and natural resources. The commission should be empowered to act as per the needs of the environment and to protect the environmental rights of people of Punjab to get clean air, pure water, safe and nutritious food and for the preservation of the natural, historical, aesthetic, cultural and spiritual beauty and values of the environment.

In fact, the Constitution of India has laid down in its Directive Principles of State Policy the following duties for the State and the Citizen.

Article 48 states that “The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.” Article 51A, states that “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures.”

Punjab as a State and its Citizens individually and collectively have not only failed to perform the duties expected of us, but has also violated the constitutional provision. This is not just a legal question of non-compliance but a question of an impending failure to survive as a society, in a healthy and ecologically sustainable and productive manner.

Hence, one of the primary purposes of the State Environment Commission must be to ensure that the State and Citizens perform the duties demanded of them under the Article 48 and 51A, namely to protect and improve the natural environment.

The natural resources of Punjab are the common property of all the people who are living at present. Not only that, but this life support system, has to be maintained and cherished in such a way that the generations to come can also benefit from it. The present generation is a mere trustee and as trustees of these resources it is our duty to conserve them for coming generations.

Punjab Environment Fund: To mobilize resources for environmental tasks and to spread awareness of community initiatives the. state government should establish a Punjab Environment Fund by pledging Rs. 100 crores as initial money. Then it should appeal to the Punjabi community and particularly to the Punjabi diaspora settled abroad to donate to this fund. Industry and business establishments could also contribute to the fund. Donations to the fund should be covered under the 80-G Income Tax Act.

Making available Fuel-Fruit-Fodder-Manure supply through Planting of Trees: A comprehensive program may be started for ecological revival with the intention of providing natural manure, fuel wood, fodder and fruits for the overall benefit of soil, cattle and human beings. A time bound program for planting of trees, especially indigenous species is required. This program can be linked to schools in every village. It should also be linked to the NREGP (National Rural Employment Guaranty Program). This will be one of the biggest investments for the overall development of the state.

Protection of catchment area of important dams: While irrigation is a great asset in Punjab, there is very little being done to protect its catchment areas, and in the long run these dams would be rendered useless and incapable of water storage. Moreover, loss of forests will also have a serious impact on ground water recharge, and surface water availability. The protection of the catchment areas of the dams should be taken up on priority and should be linked to NREGP. These are investments that would improve the situation of water availability immensely.Agriculture

Develop a Strategy and Action Plan for Sustainable Agriculture: The agriculture of Punjab needs a fresh vision for its sustainability, as well as sustainability of its natural resources. Currently, agriculture has not only destroyed the household nutritional security of farmers but has also made them dependent on the market for daily needs. As eminent agriculture scientist and policy expert Dr. Devinder Sharma rightly says, “Emphasis on commodities approach during the Green Revolution has encouraged mono-cultures, loss of biodiversity, encouraged food trade in some commodities, distorted domestic markets, and disrupted the micro-nutrient availability in soil, plant, animals and for humans. Thrust on farm commodities has also pushed in trade activities, encouraged food miles, adding to greenhouse emissions, water mining, and destruction of farm incomes. The need is to revert back to the time-tested farming systems that relied on mixed cropping and its integration with farm animals, thereby meeting the household and community nutrition needs from the available farm holdings. “

Such an approach will need a paradigm shift in approach and thinking.To take up this issue with urgent priority the SAD-BJP Government should formulate a policy and action plan with a fixed time frame to promote sustainable agricultural practices and eco-friendly methods of farming like organic and natural farming. Special budget allocations shall be made available for the purpose. The major focus of this strategy should be:

1. To draw a balance sheet of the collapse of Green Revolution. We need to know what went wrong with agriculture, so that we don't repeat the same mistakes. A post-mortem of the Green Revolution is absolutely necessary.

2. To draw a map of the soil health of Punjab. In the future, all crop introductions should be based on soil health. If a crop (including cash crops) has the possibility of destroying the soil fertility and thereby accentuating the ecological crisis, that cropping system should not be allowed.

3. A biodiversity-based system of agriculture should be promoted, with support for indigenous varieties of cattle, other animals, and seeds. Incentives should be offered for farmers to implement this system.

4. Attracting youth through awareness building, and making agriculture economically viable, and hence attractive as a livelihood option. This means there must be support for the youth to take up agriculture and related activities.

5. A cultural revival focused on reviving the farming culture of the state and upholding its heritage and pride as an agrarian state and food supplier to the nation.

6. A farm-based approach rather than crop-based approach in agriculture planning and supports

7. Support to form framers’ collectives in production, farm management and marketing, and ensuring procurement by government agencies, to avoid price fluctuations.

8. Awareness-building about harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and the phasing-out of chemical pesticides through capacity-building among farmers, women’s groups and local entrepreneurs to produce organic inputs locally. All these have already been successfully developed and tried in many states without reducing the outputs.

9. Changing the syllabus of Agriculture University to suit to this approach, meaning building the capacity of agriculture students to understand the local ecology and needs for an ecological revival of Punjab. This can include forestry and fisheries students also.

10. The phasing-out of investments and increased outlays for agricultural research based on external chemical inputs like fertilizer and pesticides. Instead, financial allocations should be made for reviving low-input agriculture, which uses cheap and locally available technology and, in turn, improves production, reduces the cost of production and protects the environment.

11. The role of technology, too, needs to be ascertained. Pesticides were promoted blindly on rice, for instance. The International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines now says that pesticides on rice were a waste of time and effort in Asia. But meanwhile, pesticides usage has already taken a huge toll, and pushed farmers in a debt trap.

12. Agricultural research must reorient itself to learn from the existing sustainable farming models. The focus of genetically modified crops must immediately stop as it is risky and expensive for the farmer. This has been amply demonstrated in several parts of the world.

13. Water productivity and efficiency has to be the hallmark of agricultural research based on the local conditions.

Dr. Davinder Sharma also suggests a few additional items:

a) Contract farming can compound the agrarian crisis. Contract farming provides companies to go in for still intensive farming systems thereby destroying the soil productivity.

b) It has been observed that contract farming on average requires 20 per cent more application of chemical inputs and ten per cent more mining of ground water.

c) It is therefore important that all contract farming approvals be based on farm sustainability parameters. Contract must specify that the company will return the land back to the farmer (which it takes on lease) in the same fertility conditions that existed at the time of the contract.

d) Corporate agriculture must be discouraged. All over the world, agribusiness companies have displaced farmers. This cannot be allowed in India, which supports 65-crores of people on the farm.

e) Exotic as well as hybrid seeds should be discouraged. These have been primarily responsible for making the lands sick. The thrust should be on traditional seeds.

Punjab State Policy on Natural and Eco-Sustainable Farming: Lastly, the government announced that it will form an Organic Farming Policy for the state. But it did not materialize and as of yet, there is no such policy for the state. As eco-sustainable agriculture is the need of the hour for Punjab, it should have a proper policy for the same. It is time to take the initiative to formulate a policy framework for natural and organic farming promotion. Punjab government should invite suggestions and inputs from all the stakeholders and partners for sustainable development before formulating any policy. Public hearings and dialogue must be initiated to make the policy people-oriented and realistic. Moreover, the policy formulation process should be farmer-centric and must be with a bottom-up approach. Again this task can not be entrusted to Green Revolution mindset experts; it has be entrusted to individuals who want to see the new paradigm implemented.

Task Force on Natural & Sustainable Farming: To develop this strategy and action plan the Punjab Government should form a Task Force on Natural & Sustainable Farming on the lines of the Task Force on Organic Farming headed by Dr. Kunwarji Bhai Jadav. The proposed task force for Punjab should be headed by a person with vast experience in natural and organic farming and should be a practicing farmer. This monumental task cannot be left to those who are responsible for the present crisis, they should not be asked to provide solutions.

Moreover, the government should make a serious attempt to implement the recommendations made by task force headed by Dr. Kunwarji Bhai Jadhav. This will build a positive atmosphere for natural and sustainable farming in Punjab.

State Farmers’ Income Commission: At a time when farmers are increasingly being burdened with growing indebtedness, are threatening to quit agriculture (as per the NSSO more than 40 per cent farmers would prefer to quit agriculture), and are reeling under the impact of the WTO-induced policy changes, more and more farmers are seeing a reduction in their net income from their farms. This has triggered them to seek more credit, which banks and moneylenders gladly offer. All this has led to a situation where most of our farmers are in serious debt. Hence, there is an urgent need to augment the farmers’ net income through economically beneficial activity. The best method now that will ensure an assured income to the farmers is to actually pay them a decoupled income on a monthly basis. Food policy analyst Devinder Sharma has suggested this. He says, “To revive agriculture from the abyss of low growth and mass suicides, farmers desperately need an income commission as a social security net.” The State Farmers Income Commission should work out a minimum monthly income for the farmers, based on minimum land-holdings and decoupled from production.

Institute for Natural & Sustainable Agriculture: An Institute for Sustainable & Natural Agriculture should be setup, and headed by a person with vast experience in natural and organic farming practices. This institute shall be autonomous in working, policy formulations and adoption of techniques. The institute shall be guided by an Advisory Council drawing experts and practicing farmers from all over the country. The management of this institute shall be entrusted to a governing council. This council shall have representation from the civil society organizations and practicing organic and natural farmers with farming experience.

Research Project on Pesticide consumption and residue:As Punjab has one of highest levels of pesticide consumption in India, it subsequently has the highest pesticide load on its people and ecosystem. Punjab is already facing severe adverse impacts of agrochemicals used in last four decades. Now at this crucial juncture, the Punjab Government should take bold steps to ensure a safe environment and ecosystem to the future of generations of Punjab. For this the Punjab Government should take these steps:

1. Complete a detailed study on pesticide consumption patterns in Punjab.

2. The government should immediately ban aggressive marketing of pesticides including all forms of advertisements, publicity and promotion schemes for pesticides and other agrochemicals along with all incentives given to the pesticide and agrochemical dealers’ network.

3. Raise awareness about the dangers of pesticide use through well-financed education campaigns. These must ensure the dissemination of information on ill effects of pesticides to all users.

4. The government should evolve an action plan for the immediate and time-bound phasing out of the most deadly pesticides: class I a, I b and II.

5. The vital task of properly compiling residue data, already generated by the agriculture universities.

Develop an alternative local (domestic) marketing strategy, especially for Organic Produce: The government must take steps to ensure the right price for the produce, without the exploitation of middlemen, including the big retail companies, (the shopping malls and supermarkets) who are now monopolizing the markets. It is possible to develop an alternative domestic market for food produce, especially organic through the concepts like an Organic Bazaar (running in five cities in India) and the Participatory Guarantee System of Organic Standards Certification (accepted by IFOAM), which is not costly and exploitative and is based on a faith, accountability and integrity based system.

Census on Farmers’ suicides and debt

Punjab has witnessed thousands of farmers’ suicides in last fifteen years. Despite several studies, the actual number of suicides committed by farmers in Punjab is not yet clear. According to one participatory survey done by Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) Ugrahan the suicide number is more then 13,000. But there are other figures also. In absence of any proper comprehensive survey, the definite and authentic number of farmer’s suicide is not available. Beside farmers’ suicides several landless laborers have also been forced to end their lives and they are not counted for. The situation of debt is the same. Though it is clear that Punjab has one of the highest debts on its farmers, the exact agrarian debt is not explicitly clear. Therefore it is high time to undertake an all inclusive special census on farmers’ suicides and agriculture debt. This census must include the aspect of widows and children of farmers. What is their situation, their financial status and social security?

In most cases, suicides are a social stigma which hunts farmers after declared defaulter by banks / money lenders and the subsequent taking of their land, house or tractor. The government can avert these tragedies by simply banning confiscation by money lenders. Banks should be directed not to confiscate the movable and immovable property of defaulting farmers. Nor should farmers be put in prison. In this context, the government must accept the demands written in ‘A Peasant Proposal for stopping the present trend of Suicides in Peasantry’ submitted by eight farmers’ organizations in September last year. Food and Water The depletion and contamination of water resources and providing safe potable water to the people are among the most severe crises of Punjab. The water crisis in Punjab is escalating day by day. In 1984 there were 53 blocks listed as dark zones, in 1995 they were 84 and in 2005 the figure went up to 108, out of total 138 development blocks in Punjab. The groundwater level is falling much faster than assumed. In 1973 only 3% of the area of Punjab had a water table below 10 meters, it went up to 14.9% in 1989, 20% in 1992, and 28% in 1997, 53% in 2000, 76% in 2002 and in 2004 the situation went beyond expectations when 90% of the area of Punjab was drawing water from the depth of more then 10 meters. Moreover 30% of the area of Punjab draws water from a depth of 20 meters or even more. In 1980 there were 3,712 villages identified as having drinking water problem. This figure went up to 6,287 in 1990, and then in year 2000 the number went as high as 8,518 and as of now 11,849 villages or habitations out of total 12,423 in Punjab are facing drinking water problems. This is a situation that has clearly occurred due to the high exploitation of groundwater without any effort to conserve. Considering this problem, the SAD-BJP government should initiate a state level water conservation drive with all inclusive community participation. The state government should formulate a time bound action plan to rejuvenate the old water bodies (pond and lakes) and to build new ones across the villages of Punjab by involving Panchayati Raj Institutions, civic bodies, farmers and farmers groups, village youth clubs, civil society groups, religious and social organizations, educational institutes and various governmental departments. The falling water levels in Punjab are being viewed very seriously by the experts. It is being predicted that the land of Punjab is will be barren in the coming few decades if the things are not corrected on a war footing. We are at a crossroads; we have to drive Punjab out of this devastation. Conserving water is like conserving life. But how this will happen? Who has to take initiative? And why has the Punjabi society become so ignorant about water? How has the sacred relation between water and society been lost? These questions have to be answered before evolving any conservation strategy and action plan. The civil society has to be recognized as the rightful custodian of water and its involvement for a larger role is must for the success of this rescue mission. The crisis has to be tackled holistically. The vision, the approach, the strategy and action has to be holistic. Man has taken control of all water resources and this control is absolute; it displaces other creatures and their natural right over water – this is a brutal attempt. It is an injustice to other forms of nature. This may ultimately lead to the destruction of human civilization.

We inherited a water tradition which was decentralized and managed by the community, the stakeholders’ themselves. Each community has its own water-order, that treats water as an integral part of nature, not a mere resource used to meet ever increasing human demands. This water-order is reflected in our social customs, traditions, beliefs and knowledge systems. It was so interwoven in a multifabric structure that it is in symbiosis with the very identity of society. Environmental justice to all living beings and sustainability are the foundations of this water-order. It covers all aspects of environmental, agricultural and economic sustainability along with social and cultural security. This water-order has an inbuilt institution of water conservation and enforcing water laws. It also defines our relation with water. Unfortunately, Punjab has lost its inherited water-order.

To begin with, let the people of Punjab have a water budget. As we manage our finances by budgeting, the water has to be budgeted too. It has to be done on various scales, such as individual, village, block, district, town, geoclimatic sub-zone, river basins, the entire state and then sectoral levels like agriculture, industry and domestic supply. This water budget shall be based on equity, sustainability and harmony with nature along with social and environmental justice. We have to think about sustainable consumption pattern also. Gandhiji has said that earth has enough to fulfill everyone’s needs but not for their greed. There is no limitation to consumption, if there is no budgeting. We are living as if there is an increasing water supply, but there is a limit, so how far we can go? A systematic effort to reduce man’s demand of water is earnestly required. The western approach to consumption is that happiness is like ever walking without ending according to Tagore. Can the people of Punjab think about this aspect? We have to identify the potentially unnecessary consumption demands of man; we have to differentiate between need and demand by greed.

Water should be available to everyone, without any discrimination or hassle. The systems imposed by the new economic order of globalization by the World Bank and international funding agencies, will certainly leave no scope for the interdependent life systems of shared and community governance. The new water pricing policy is going to rout our social systems too. The drinking water cannot be and should not be controlled by the market forces. We have to prioritize the water supply according to social and environmental justice and make the pricing system based on these. Drinking water is very basic human right and the government has to ensure that the public stand post must work. First the community institutions were dismantled, the colonial regime has taken over entire control and it was continued even after independence and now the GOI, Planning Commission along with the World Bank are talking about community management. Now the government proposed to hand over water supply to PRIs, but it will certainly not work. The society that has lost its capacity, its water vision and water-order can not manage its resources on its own. It was made handicapped for colonial interests and we did not rectify this after independence. Earlier the society was striped of its sense of relation with water and now all of a sudden the government wants them to manage.

State Water Policy: The State of Punjab needs to have a Water Policy, which encourages and ensures conservation and equitable supply and use; revival of traditional water sources; protection and stringent punishment for exploitation of pollution of water sources. Punjab has had a draft water policy for the last two years, which is not circulated for discussion. Moreover, this draft has very little to do with water as a heritage and a common property resource. It is based on the National Water Policy and is very much corporate driven. The new government of Punjab should dare to take a bold decision to redraft the state water policy very much in accordance with the water heritage, ethos and values of Punjab. The government should immediately call an open dialogue on water policy and must circulate the present draft for wider public participation in water governance.

Watershed approach in planning: The SAD-BJP Government should shift its focus from large water and irrigation projects, causing massive loss to the state’s finances, and not yielding expected production or water supply goals. It should start a watershed based approach in land-crop-water management so that water availability is, as much as possible, ensured in the watershed. Such an approach will ensure revival of traditional water management systems and sources and would bring in participation in conservation and using of water resources. It should encourage less water-demanding crops in areas with acute water shortages and encourage water conservation measures like mulching and natural farming. These are important steps for water conservation and land management.

Make rainwater harvesting mandatory: The SAD-BJP Government should make rainwater harvesting mandatory in all of Punjab except in areas under water logging. This should be implemented in a phased manner with community participation. This program should cover rural and urban areas. Farmers should be encouraged to make farm ponds in their farms.

Reviving water bodies: Once Punjab had thousands of water bodies, ponds and wetlands. In the last three decades most of these water bodies have disappeared due to large scale encroachments, destruction of catchments areas, unmindful constructions in water channels, ruining the entire water ecology of the state and damaging biodiversity as well. This has also caused steep fall in the rate of groundwater recharging. The Government should evolve a strategy to revive ponds, reservoirs and wetlands. For this the Government should take a bold step for the removal of encroachments and must ensure the treatment of catchments areas. Drains and rivulets should be developed as water-harnessing structures.

Giving life back to Rivers: The present scenario of rivers of Punjab is very disgusting. The once mighty rivers full of life and joy were lost somewhere. The high contamination is destroying them. The Punjab Government must evolve a river action plan to revive life in rivers and rivulets. At the same time, the new Government’s initiative to release the funds for Holy Kali Bein project is a welcome step.

Save Water Mission: To administer this community-led initiative, a ‘Save Water Mission’ should be formed with the large scale partnership of community groups. An advisory board drawing water experts and water warriors from all over India shall be constituted to steer the proposed Save Water Mission. A Water Literacy Program should also be started in schools, among general public and farmers by the Save Water Mission.

Safe food for Punjabis: The data from All India Coordinated Research Project on Pesticidal Residue clearly indicates the presence of DDT, HCH and BHC in cereals, milk, butter, fruits, vegetables and even infant formula samples from Punjab. The edibles have residues of other pesticides like Phosphamidon, Quinalphos, Chlorpyriphos, Endosulfan, Malathion, Parathion, Monocrotophos and lindane. This is an alarm bell for a devastation in offing. Moreover the presence of pesticides in blood as detected by the Centre for Science and Environment also raises serious questions. The CSE report cites the presence of a cocktail of 6 to 13 pesticides in blood samples. CSE also finds organo-chlorine and residues of the newer and so-called ‘non-persistent’ pesticides, organo-phosphates, in blood. The rising levels of these dangerous chemicals in human bodies, bodies of other living beings, in the soil, water and food items, much beyond safe limits, is the alarm bell to take corrective steps urgently. This situation demands that pesticide-free food must be first offered to Punjabi people, but the state agency for organic farming the Punjab State Organic Farming Council, has its entire thrust on the export of organic foods. The wider question is, is pesticide-free produce meant only for foreign markets? Do the ordinary citizens of Punjab not have right to get pesticide-free food? The Organic Farming Council of Punjab seems not to have any vision and commitment in this regard. The new Government should take the initiative to revamp and reconstitute the organic farming council, with a thrust on ensuring availability of nutritious, pesticide and chemical-free food to Punjabis first. Health

Epidemiological and environmental Mapping of Punjab: The first and foremost thing the government should do is to undertake a widespread and multicentric epidemiological and environmental mapping through an extensive study and participatory research, to assess the magnitude and specificity of ill-health especially due to contamination of food, water and air with pesticides and other chemical inputs of agriculture. At present there are no statistics available to know the type of health problems being caused by these poisonous agriculture inputs. In addition to that industry is shamelessly throwing its toxic waste in the water bodies-rivers, canals, seasonal drains, sewers and even in the groundwater through pits, wells and tube wells etc. Burning of fossil fuels is the third devil in this context. Strangely there is either no monitoring for these criminal acts or if it is there, no remedial action is taken. The latest revelations about gross pollution of Kali Benin, Buddha Nalah, Sutlej River and ground water of Ludhiana are well known. The people have a right to know the type and extent of damage being done to our water bodies by the polluting industry. We also want to know what type of health problems are being caused by these acts. But unfortunately there are no research/statistics to know all these vital facts.

To know about these things is quite a difficult task firstly because the quality of health statistics is very poor in the state and secondly the medical profession is not aware of the health problems related to the toxic effects of the pesticides and other poisonous chemicals being used very extensively in Punjab. This is particularly true about the long term and chronic ill-effects of these poisons like falling body immunity, increasing prevalence of various types of cancers, increasing incidence of spontaneous abortions, congenital abnormalities in the new born children and many more.

The existing infrastructure of the health department for the collection, compilation and analysis of data about various diseases is very poor. This is even truer about these newer problems being caused by the toxic effects of various chemical poisons.

The statistics regarding acute poisoning which is also very common are available to some extent. But here also, the reported cases of acute poisoning are only a fraction of the total problem. The reason being that because of the police harassment and social stigma associated with poisoning, people don’t come to the government hospitals because they are bound to report to the police (it is worth mentioning here that otherwise also only 25% of the sick people come to government hospitals for treatment).Private hospitals are not reporting such cases- neither to police nor to the health department. If the patient survives it is fine and if he or she dies it is silently cremated. It is an open secret that accidental acute poisoning because of the pesticides is quite common because the prescribed precautions are rarely followed while spraying or handling these insecticides.

These are newer health problems not taught to the doctors by standard textbooks. There is an urgent need to sensitize and train health professionals to identify such health problems and then to evolve the ways to treat, mitigate and educate the people to take preventive measures. This will be possible only if our doctors know the epidemiology of these diseases. To do that, we need public health specialists, who have been fully sensitized to these health problems. We should put at least one such epidemiologist in each district and appoint a team of senior and experienced epidemiologists at the state level to analyze the data and evolve a strategy for the entire state. As there are increasing numbers of reports that the prevalence of cancers has increased significantly, particularly in the cotton belt, the health department should spread awareness to make the cancer easily detectable and should make a cancer registry compulsory in all government and private hospitals.

Institute for Environmental Health Research and Studies: Considering the urgency of the situation, and also to act as a research support center for the Environment Commission and for conducting the environmental audit etc., it is proposed that an Institute for Environment Health Research and Studies be setup. An eminent environmental epidemiologist of international repute and experience must head the institute; with its headquarters preferably at an area worst affected with acute environmental health problems, like Bhatinda. The institute should have regional centers in various regions of the state, and must work collaboratively with environmental, health and farmer-based organizations.

Environmental Health Crisis Mitigation Task Force: Even while the assessment is being done, an environmental health crisis of this intensity can only be mitigated by large scale community intervention and participation. Thus the new government should form an Environmental Health Crisis Mitigation Task Force under the aegis of Institute for Environmental Health Research and Studies with the majority participation from NGOs and farmer groups. A senior Epidemiologist or Environmentalist should head this task force with powers minimum of the secretary rank of the government. This task force should be constituted by taking members from medical fraternity, social activists, and teachers of life sciences, farmers and experts from various governmental departments. The primary work of this task force would be to prepare and implement a Comprehensive Relief and Remedial Program in the acutely affected areas. The entire medical fraternity and medical students must be involved in this program to rejuvenate the health of the community. The medical fraternity needs to be sensitized and for that the syllabi of medical studies must be suitably augmented to include specific content on toxicology and contemporary issues.

Declare ecological and environmental health emergency in South Malwa: The southwestern Malwa region has been identified as facing the most severe environmental health crisis. The use of toxic chemicals is the highest in this belt. This entire area should be treated as a toxic hot spot. To focus its efforts, the government must declare and impose immediately the state of ecological and environmental health emergency in the entire belt. For this, specially drawn plans are needed with a specific focus on natural and organic farming, with adequately allocated funds for the targeted problem.

Establishment of cancer detection and Cancer Hospital in Malwa: Since cancer has emerged as a major health problem of Punjab, establishment of cancer detection centers and cancer treatment centers is the need of the state. For this, urgent funds may be provided to all medical colleges in the state to establish oncology departments. PGIMER, Chandigarh may be provided funds and asked to supervise establishment of these departments and to provide oncology physicians and surgeons and technical manpower for running the support facilities. In addition to this, Cancer Hospital must be established in Malwa to provide comprehensive advanced care to cancer patients. Presently there is no such center in this part of the country. Patients have to go to neighboring Bikaner and other places for basic treatment of cancer. At the same time, its oncology department may be expanded and upgraded to act as apex referral institution in the line of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai for the patients referred from Medical Colleges and other hospitals in the state. In fact, this should be announced in the budget session of the Punjab assembly. This issue was identified by the SAD and has been promised in their election manifesto also. Environment Education

Include ecology in Syllabus: The State Education Department should make necessary interventions in the syllabus preparations for schools – both government and private. There is an urgent need to focus on the ecology and culture of Punjab. We must teach the youngsters about biodiversity, traditional food and lifestyle in relation to health, economy, ecology and the culture of our state. Though the Supreme Court has made it mandatory, it is not taken seriously. Many a time children are being taught about global issues like ozone layer, but know very little about the dark water availability zones in Punjab. Moreover, practical training must also be imparted to take up environment monitoring and ecological restorative activities, compulsorily as part of the curriculum. The textbooks in Punjab need to be redesigned, incorporating the environmental crisis engulfing Punjab and its people.

The environment as a subject has to be taught with proper concentration, orientation, and involvement. It also requires a specialization and vision with regular updating of information on environmental issues. But at present the teachers who were teaching other subjects have been given the additional charge of environmental subjects. Not even a single teacher was recruited as an environment teacher. The new government should create posts of environment teachers in all middle schools. This will also enhance the capacity of ecoclubs working in these schools.

Farming in syllabus:In an agricultural state such as Punjab, the students in schools and colleges must know, learn and practice agriculture as part of their curriculum. This would instill in them a respect for this divine work, and at the same time, encourage them to continue farming in their families. This is important, as more and more children of farmers are leaving farming, which is very disturbing and is going to have very dangerous consequences for the state. Industry and Urbanization

Industries are major drivers of the economy, and there were even times in the nation when the slogan was “Industrialize or Perish.” Today, with a growth rate of 10% in the country, mainly due to industrial and service sector growth, we had a situation where the agricultural growth was abysmal, leading to an acknowledged statistics of 1.5 lakh farmer suicides in just 10 years. This is a shameless and dangerous situation. To reverse this situation, we have to refocus our industries to the slogan of “Production by the masses rather than mass production.” This means developing small and medium-scale industries that generate mass employment and support the rural sector with additional jobs (and not displaced jobs). The present paradigm of Special Economic Zones, even with a good compensation package will eventually drive the displaced farmer to penury, as the family will not be able to cope with the changing social and economic demand of the times and with no other livelihood options given to them. Moreover, such displacements have their worst impact on women and children.

Any drive to industrialize the state should be done clearly with the following focus:

a. Industries should not be pollutive and exploitative and use resources that are replenish able, locally available and help the local economy most.

b. Industries should be sustainable in the long run, depend on local and domestic market and are not seriously influenced by external factors. These industries should use agricultural raw materials, and have a huge domestic demand.

c. Industries should not need huge amounts of subsidies and special incentives such as those offered in SEZ’s.

d. Industries should not displace already locally available livelihoods, for example the multinational retail sector will destroy local traders.

e. Industries should not produce huge amounts of solid/liquid and gaseous waste, especially chemical factories, which would invariably destroy the environment, even with the best controls.

Proper Waste management: The throwing of toxic and non-biodegradable waste into water bodies and on the land is wreaking havoc on the environment in Punjab. A SAD-BJP Government must adopt a Zero Waste approach for waste management, whereby, we eliminate the concept of waste, by adopting recyclable and reusable materials and avoiding the throwing away, land filling or incineration of waste, and following full reuse/recycling of discards. This will also supply a number of jobs in producing sustainable materials instead of the pollutive materials like plastics. Conclusion

We must acknowledge that our model of development as pursued in the last few decades has resulted in serious conflicts among the users and sharers of our resources. This has resulted in gross distortions in the economy and development of the state. We must also recognize that Punjab’s environment and natural resources cannot just be considered resources for exploitation and destruction. They are basic life-supporting systems that need to be cherished and protected for the overall well-being of all citizens and for future generations. But we have seen that almost uniformly, we have a situation of over exploitation, misuse and extreme degradation of our natural resources, environment and ecology. There are almost no efforts for replenishment or remedial action. The impact this has created on the life supporting system is leading Punjab into an ecological disaster. But it is also significant that the protection of the environment in Punjab has become a serious social and political issue at the grassroots level as well as at the state level. This is no more just an academic issue or only a question of civil conflicts. Now it is a state concern in the truest sense.

It is imperative that, to meet the envisaged growth targets in all the developmental sectors, the Punjabi Community start conserving and replenishing the environment rather that only exploiting and consuming the precious natural resources and the environment. Only such an approach will help provide the necessary resource base for the overall growth of their lives, livelihoods, incomes and quality of living. The strategies, plans and actions developed and implemented by the government as part of the “Green Agenda for Sustainable Punjab,” is meant to bring about this change in behavior of all Punjabis.

Many other development sectors may be influenced by this Agenda, either positively or negatively in the short run, but in the long run, it will turn out to be really beneficial. Hence, it should be made obligatory that all plans and actions developed for other sectors must be harmonized with the plans and policies developed as part of the Green Agenda for Sustainable Punjab.

We must remember that for progress we depend on three resources: Environment and Natural Resources, Human Resources and Financial Resources. It is the creative and judicious management of these that any development plan should focus on. Human Resources can be created through training and education and through bringing expertise when needed from outside. Financial Resources are also translatable, but their creation needs enterprise and that can be developed only if both Human Resources and Environment and Natural Resources are available. Here, we see that the Environment and Natural Resources are crucial, because they cannot be easily created and can be only used and replenished if we are really cautious, intelligent and creative. The whole thrust of the Green Agenda is towards creating such a framework to enhance this natural resource base, that will provide the means for the well-being of all. In our country we also have a Spiritual resource, which is the driving force, the will to go forward. We hope and pray that this government has the spiritual resource and the political will to shoulder this Agenda and ensure a Sustainable Green Punjab.

हमारी जींद यात्रा- कीटों को पहचानने, उन्हें समझने की यात्रा

2011-07-15T12:30:00.003+05:30

10 से 13 जुलाई, 2011

कीटों के बारे में जानने में मेरी दिलचस्पी तबसे और बढ़ गयी जब मैंने खेती विरासत मिशन के साथ काम करना शुरू किया | और जब मैंने फेसबुक पर प्राकृतिक कीट नियंत्रण ग्रुप के साथ जुडी तो यह दिलचस्पी और भी बढ़ गयी | और फिर एक दिन हमें पता चला कि हमें उस गाँव, यहाँ से इन कीटों को पहचानने, समझने की शुरुआत हुई , वहाँ उन औरतो से और इस विलक्षण काम को शुरू करने वाले डॉक्टर सुरेंदर दलाल जी से सीखने के लिए जाना है|

जाने से हफ्ता पहले ही सभी से विचार चर्चा होने लगी और मै और मेरे साथी इस सबके बारे में सीखने के लिए बहुत ही उत्साहित थे और एक -एक कर दिन गिन रहे थे और आखिरकार वो सुबह आ ही गई जब हमने जैतो से जींद जाने वाली सुबह की गाडी पकड़नी थी| सुबह सभी साथी अपने-अपने गाँव से जैतो स्टेशन पर पहुंचे| पूरे रास्ते जींद पहुंचकर कीटों को पहचानने, उन्हें समझने के एक नये अनुभव को लेने के बारे में ही बाते होती रही| हम सुबह 9 :30 बजे जींद पहुंचे जहाँ डॉक्टर दलाल जी के दोस्त हमें लेने के लिए पहुँच चुके थे| रास्ते में उन्होंने हमें डॉक्टर साहिब के अथक प्रयासों के बारे में बताया कि कैसे डॉक्टर साहिब दिन रात इसी काम में लगे रहते है|

मन में किसी अनजाने से सर्प्राइज़ की उम्मीद लिए हम 10 बजे डॉक्टर साहिब के घर पहुंचे और देखिये हमें वो सर्प्राइज़ मिल भी गया जब हमने देखा कि उमेंदर दत्त जी भी वहाँ पहुंचे हुए थे| हमारे यह पूछने पर, कि उन्होंने अपने आने के बारे में हमे पहले क्यों नहीं बताया, कहा कि वो भी कीटों के बारे में सीखने में पीछे नहीं रहना चाहते थे|

रस्मी बातचीत और एक दूसरे से परिचय करने के बाद डॉक्टर साहिब ने बताया कि हमारे और उमेन्द्र जी के आने के उपलक्ष्य में एक प्रेस कांफ्रेंस रखी गयी है| चाय-नाश्ते के दौरान बातचीत करते हुए उन्होंने एक गुरुमंत्र भी दिया कि किसी भी जंग को जीतने के लिए तीन बातें महत्वपूर्ण है- पहली दुश्मन की सही पहचान करना , उसके भेद जानना तथा जंग में अपने खुद के हथियार विकसित करना | अभी तक पिछले 40 वर्षो से किसान और कीटों के बीह चल रही यह जंग सिर्फ इसलिए नहीं जीती जा सकी क्योंकि किसानो को ना तो अपने दुश्मन की पहचान है, ना ही उसके बारे में जानकारी है और ना ही अपने खुद के हथियार है | बस कोई सा भी कीट दिखे बिना यह जाने कि वो शाकाहारी है या मासाहारी, कीटनाशक का छिडकाव करने लगते है | चाय-नाश्ते के बाद सभी प्रेस कांफ्रेंस में शामिल होने के लिए तैयार थे|

11 बजे प्रेस कांफ्रेंस शुरू हुई जिसमे लगभग सभी अखबारों के पत्रकार शामिल हुए. पत्रकारों ने पंजाब में खेती विरासत मिशन दुआरा जैविक खेती को प्रोत्साहित करने के लिए किये जा रहे कार्यों के सम्बन्ध में प्रशन पूछे. उमेन्द्र जी ने बताया कि कैसे पूरे देश का डेढ़ प्रतिशत भू- भाग होने पर भी पंजाब में देश के कुल कीटनाशको का 18 प्रतिशत भाग प्रयोग होता है| पंजाब की मिट्टी, पंजाब का पानी, हवा सब प्रदूषित हो चुके है जिसके परिणामस्वरूप कैंसर, जनन शक्ति से सम्बंधित रोग, समय से पूर्व बच्चो का जन्म, बिना अंगो वाले बच्चे पैदा हो रहे है | इस समय पंजाब सेहत सम्बन्धी संकट से जूझ रहा है| पत्रकारों के यह पूछने पर कि इस सबका क्या समाधान है, उमेन्द्र जी ने कहा कि जैविक खेती को अपनाना ही एकमात्र समाधान है. अपनी जींद यात्रा के बारे में बताते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि वो और उनकी 6 सदस्य टीम कीटों के बारे में सीखने के लिए ही जींद आई है ताकि पंजाब में भी इसे आगे बढ़ाया जा सके|

प्रेस कांफ्रेंस के बाद हम सभी डॉक्टर दलाल के साथ कीटों के बारे में जानने के लिए उनके साथ बैठे जिसमे उन्होंने हमें कीटों के बारे में आधारभूत जानकारी दी. डा. दलाल ने आगे बात बढ़ाते हुए हमें बताया कि हमारे कीट-वैज्ञानिक कीट उन रीढ़विहीन संधिपादों को कहते हैं जिनका शरीर तीन भागों में बटा हुआ हो तथा छ: जोड़ी टांग हो. मतलब इनके शरीर के तीन भाग सिर, धड व पेट होते हैं| कीट की आँखें, मुहं व एंटीना आदि इसके सिर पर होते है| इनकी टाँगें व पंख धड पर होते हैं. कीटों की छ: जोड़ी टाँगें व अमूमन दो जोड़ी पंख होते हैं| आमतौर पर कीटों के जीवन की अंडा, लार्वा, प्यूपा व प्रौढ़ नामक चार अवस्थाएं होती हैं| उन्होंने विस्तार से कीटों के जीवन चक्कर के बारे में बताया |

भोजन की तासीर के अनुसार कीट दो प्रकार के होते हैं-मांसाहारी और शाकाहारी| इस दुनिया में मांसाहारी कीटों की गिनती किसान मित्रों के रूप में होती है जबकि शाकाहारी कीटों को किसानों का दुश्मन समझा जाता है| कीट चाहे मांसाहारी हों या शाकाहारी पर मुँह की बनावट के हिसाब से मुख्य रूप से दो ही प्रकार के होते हैं-चूसक कीट- वो कीट जो अपने डंक कि मदद से रस चूसते है और उनमे उनके मुँह कि जगह डंक होगा | इनका डंक नरम होता है| यह रस चूसने से पहले पत्ते पर एक जहर छोड़ते है और फिर डंक अंदर जाता है | दूसरे चर्वक कीट- वो कीट जो चबा कर खाते है | हमारा खून हवा के संपर्क में आने पैर जम जाता है पर कीटों का खून वायु के संपर्क में आने पर भी जमता नही | इसका अर्थ यह भी हुआ कि जब किसी भी कीट को कोई चोट लग जाये तो वो खून न जमने कि वजह से उसका मरना निश्चित है |

मांसाहारी कीटों के शाकाहारी कीटों को ख़त्म करने के अलग-अलग तरीके होते है | जैसे कुछ मांसाहारी अपने अंडे शाकाहारी कीटों के लार्वा में दे देते है और जब उस अंडे में से बचा निकलता है तो वो उस लार्वा को ख़त्म कर देता है | उन्होंने बताया कि जब सभी जगह किसान मिली बग से घबराये हुए थे तो निडाना में किसानो ने इसे नियंत्रित करने के लिए कोई कीटनाशक प्रयोग नहीं किया यह काम तो अंगीरा, फंगीरा और जंगीरा ने ही कर दिया | उन्होंने हमें अलग- अलग कीटों के स्वभाव के बारे में जानकारी दी | और साथ में यह भी बताया कि कौन सा माँसाहारी कीट कौन से शाकाहारी कीट को खाता है | हमारी यह कलास रात के 8 बजे तक चली पर फिर भी थकावट का नामो-निशाँ नहीं था | रात के खाने के बाद डॉक्टर साहिब ने अगले दिन के कार्यक्रम के बारे में बताया जिसमे पहले हमे बरां कलां में किसानो की पाठशाला में 8 बजे तक पहुंचना था और उसके बाद निडाना गाँव में महलों की पाठशाला में जाना था और रात को वही निडाना में रुकना था |

जुलाई 11 , 2011 दिन सोमवार

बरां कलां गाँव में

11 जुलाई को हम सभी 7 बजे तक तैयार हो गए कीटों के बारे में हमारी पहली पाठशाला में शामिल होने के लिए | हम सुबह 7 : 30 बजे जींद से बरां कलां गाँव के लिए चल दिए और कलास के समय यानि 8 बजे तक वहाँ पहुँच गए | सबसे कलास में डॉक्टर दलाल जी ने सभी से हमारा परिचय करवाया और फिर कलास शुरू हुई | इसके बाद एक ग्रुप लीडर के नेतृत्व में 5 -5 किसानो का

अरे अरे !! मुझे पहचानो !!

ग्रुप बना | इसके बाद सभी ग्रुप कपास के खेत के निरीक्षण के लिए खेत में पहुंचे | सभी ग्रुपों को 10 पौधों को जांचने के लिए कहा गया | प्रत्येक ग्रुप को प्रत्येक पौधे के तीन पत्तो पर चुरडा, तेला और सफ़ेद मक्खी खोजने थे और उनकी गिनती करनी थी | हरेक ग्रुप के पास छोटे-छोटे कीट देखने के लिए मैग्नीफाईंग-ग्लास थे| लिखने के लिए कापी और पैन था| लगभग डेढ़ घंटे के बाद सभी ग्रुपों ने अपनी-अपनी रिपोर्ट तैयार की और अपनी अपनी बारी आने पर प्रस्तुत की | सभी ग्रुपों ने जो- जो देखा उसकी ड्राइंग भी बने | रिपोर्टों से यह निष्कर्ष निकला कि आज के दिन इस कपास के खेत में सफ़ेद-मक्खी, हरा तेला एवं चुरड़े देखे गये हैं परन्तु इनकी संख्या काफी कम है| अभी ये रस चूसकर हानि पहुँचाने वाले कीड़े कपास की फसल को हानि पहुँचाने की स्थिति में नही हैं। किसी खेत में प्रति पत्ता सफ़ेद मक्खी 6 , हरे तेले 2 और चुरड़े 10 से कम हो तो डरने की कोई बात नहीं क्योंकि यह नुक्सान करने वाली स्तिथि से काफी कम है | इनके अलावा इस खेत में क्राईसोपा के अंडे, मकड़ियाँ और लेडी बीटल भी मिली जो कि खेत के लिए एक प्राकृतिक कीटनाशी का काम करेंगी |

यह हमारे लिए काफी अच्छा अनुभव था | हमने पहली बार महसूस किया कि कीटों की दुनिया भी कितनी दिलचस्प है | खेत में जाकर कीट पहचानने और उन्हें समझने का यह हमारा पहला अवसर था |

यहाँ की पाठशाला के बाद हम निडाना गाँव के लिए चल पड़े | रास्ते में औरते बैल-गाड़ियों पर पशुओं के लिए चारा ले जाती मिली | हमारे पंजाब में तो यह नज़ारा देखने को नहीं मिलता के औरत बैल-गाडी चला रही है और मर्द बाजू में बैठा हो |

निडाना गाँव में

थोड़ी सी शरारत

हम 12 बजे निडाना गाँव पहुंचे | वहाँ पहुँच कर सबसे पहले हमने दोपहर का भोजन महिला खेत पाठशाला की कीट कमांडों अनीता के यहाँ किया. अनीता और उनके पति रणबीर सिंह की कीट जानकारी का इस गावँ में कोई मुकाबला नही. रणबीर सिंह तो निडानी व इग्राह गावों की खेत पाठशालाओं के साथ-साथ निडाना गावँ में डेफ्फोडिल स्कूल के छात्रों व धान के खेत में किसानों को ट्रेनिंग देने के लिए सप्ताह में चार दिन लगाता है अपना घर का काम छोडकर. भोजन के बाद हम निकल पड़े महिलाओं की कीट पाठशाला में सीखने के लिए | वहाँ पहुँचने पर महिला कीट पाठशाला की स्दस्यों ने हम सभी का फूलों की माला पहना कर स्वागत किया गया और हमें हथजोड़े कि एक तस्वीर भी भेंट की गई | फिर मीना मलिक और उसकी साथिनो ने हथजोड़े , जो कि एक माँसाहारी कीट है , पर लिखा एक गीत सुनाया | गुरप्रीत सिंह ने हमारी टीम का सभी से परिचय करवाया और फिर शुरू हुई हमारी पाठशाला | मीना और अन्य महिलाएं हमे कीटों के बारे में

मीना कीटों के बारे में बताते हुए

जानकारी दे रही थी | उन्होंने हमें अलग- अलग कीटों के जीवन चक्कर के बारे में बताया | उनका कीतो का यह ज्ञान किसी को भी हैरान कर सकता है | भूतपूर्व सरपंच रतन सिंह जी से हमारी टीम ने खेती के बारे में बात की | उसके बाद पाठशाला के सत्र की समाप्ति की घोषणा हुई और सभी ने एक दूसरे से विदा ली | वापसी पर महिला खेती पाठशाला की स्दस्यों ने " मै बीटल हू, मै कीटल हू , तुम समझो मेरी मेहता को " गीत भी गाया और इस समय गाँव की औरतो का उत्साह देखने लायक था |

मीना के घर पर

हमारे साथ गये पुरष साथियों को किसी और घर में ठहराया गया और मै और अमरजीत कौर जी को मीना के घर पर | हमने उसकी माता जी से और अन्य महिलाओं से बातचीत की | हमने उनसे उनके दैनिक जीवन के कार्यों के बारे में जानकारी ली| उनका दिन काफी व्यस्त जाता है | घर के काम के साथ-साथ उन्हें खेतो में भी काम करना होता है | यह पूछने पर, कि क्या उन्हें इतने काम से शिकायत नहीं होती, उन्होंने कहा कि बिलकुल नहीं बल्कि उन्हें तो अच्छा लगता है | क्या वो यह चाहेंगी कि उनकी बेटियां और बच्चे भी खेत का काम करे तो उन्होंने कहा कि बिलकुल वो चाहेंगी कि उनके बच्चे खेती का काम करे |

मीना की ताई के घर पर

पाठशाला के उनके अनुभवों के बारे में पूछने पर उन्हों बताया कि जब पहली बार हम डॉक्टर साहिब के कैंप में शामिल हुए तो हमे उनकी बाते अच्छी लगी और हमने हर मंगलवार को उनकी पाठशाला में जाने का फैसला किया | पहले तो हमें कीतो की इतनी जानकारी नहीं थी परन्तु अब वो कीतो के बारे में काफी कच जानती है | पहले खेत में जाने के कारन वो कीटों को पहचानती तो थी परन्तु उनके नाम नहीं जानती थी | उनकी पाठशाला को देखने के लिए बहुत से लोग आये है और उनसे बातचीत भी की है | जब हमेटी के कृषि वैज्ञानिक आये तो उनमे से एक ने पुछा कि मान लीजिये अगर खेत मेर माँसाहारी कीट ना आये तो क्या होगा तो महिलायों ने उन्हें जवाब दिया कि ऐसा हो ही नहीं सकता जहाँ शाकाहारी कीट होंगे, वहां मासाहारी कीट भी जरुर होंगे | सच में इन महिलाओं का आतम- विश्वास देखते ही बनता है | उन्होंने हमसे खेती में प्रयोग होने वाले कीटनाशको के सेहत पर पड़ने वालो प्रभावों की भी चर्चा की |

एक तरफ जहाँ हम महिलाओं से बातचीत कर रहे थे तो दूसरी और हमारे पुरष साथी डॉक्टर साहिब के साथ खेतो में कीतो को पहचानने के लिए निकल पड़े थे , जिसके बारे में हमने उनसे बाद में हमने शिकायत भी की कि हमें साथ क्यों नहीं ले जाया गया | हमारी अमरजीत बहन जी को तो वहां की भैंसे बहुत पसंद आई और उनका तो मन था कि एक भैंस तो वो अपने साथ ले ही जाये पर यह संभव ना हो सका | मीना कि माता जी ने हमें बताया कि यहाँ लोग पहले अपने घर कि जरुरत के लिए दूध रखते है और अगर फिर भी बढ़ जाये तो बेचते है | जब हमें तीनो समय दूध

और खूब सारा मक्खन

और खूब सारा माखन मिला तो हमे समझ में आ गया कि हरयाणा को 'दूध दही का देश ' क्यों कहा जाता है | क्यों कि इस समय तो पंजाब में लस्सी, माखन तो छोडिये दूध भी पूरा नहीं पड़ता |

शाम को डॉक्टर साहिब ने हमे अगले दिन के कार्यक्रम के बारे में बताया कि सुबह 8 बजे निडानी गाँव में पाठशाला में शामिल होने के बाद इग्राह गाँव में जायेंगे |

जुलाई 12 दिन मंगलवार

निडानी गाँव की पाठशाला में मंगलवार की सुबह निडानी खेत पाठशाला में जाते हुए अचानक बलविन्द्र सिंह ने हम सबका ध्यान रास्ते में खड़े कांग्रेस घास की तरफ खीचा.सब जुट गये कांग्रेस घास के पौधों का अवलोकन एवं निरिक्षण करने. देखते-देखते ही गौरा सिंह ने कांग्रेस घास के पत्ते खा रही एक बीटल को ढूंढ़ निकला. इसके साथ ही अमरजीत ने इस बीटल के गर्ब को पत्ते खाते हुए पकड़ लिया. डा. दलाल ने बताया की यह तो मेक्सिकन बीटल के प्रौढ़ व गर्ब हैं. इतनी ही देर में गुरप्रीत ने एक बिन्दुवा बुगड़े को पकड़ लिया. डा. साहब ने बताया की यह तो एक मांसाहारी बुगडा है जो कांग्रेस घास पर पाए जानी वाली मेक्सिकन बीटल के प्रौढ़ व गर्ब को अपना शिकार बनाएगा. हम निडानी गाँव की पाठशाला में पहुंचे वहाँ पाठशाला का दूसरा हफ्ता था और यह पाठशाला भी कपास के एक खेत में लगी | इस पाठशाला में आस- पास के गाँव के किसानो ने भी भाग लिया | पहले हमारी टीम के बारे डॉक्टर साहिब ने किसानो को बताया और फिर गुरप्रीत ने हमारा और हमारी संस्था का परिचय देने के बाद अपने अनुभवो के बारे में बताया और किसानो से पाठशाला में लगातार शामिल रहने की अपील भी की |

अमनजोत अपने विचार सांझे करते हुए

उसके बाद अमनजोत ने भी अपने अनुभवों को साँझा करते हुए कहा कि निडाना गाँव कि औरतो के जीवन में यह कीटों का ज्ञान इतना रच- मिच गया है कि उनकी आम बातचीत में और विशेषण के रूप में और तुलना के लिए भी कीटों का जिक्र रहता है | इस बातचीत के बाद हम सभी फिरसे 5 ग्रुपों में बंटकर अपने-अपने ग्रुप लीडर के साथ खेत में चुरड़े,

कीटों को पहचानते हुए

सफ़ेद मक्खी और हरे तेले को ढूँढने और गिनने के लिए खेत में पहुँच गए | डेढ़ - दो घंटे के बाद सभी अपनी- अपनी रिपोर्ट लेकर पहुंचे | सभी ने जो जो खेत में देखा उसकी ड्राइंग भी बने गई | इस खेत में भी तेले, चुरड़े और सफेद मक्खी की गिनती नुक्सान करने के स्तर से कम थी और साथ में क्राईसोपा के अंडे, उसका गरब , मकड़ियाँ, दखोड़ी भी देखी | मनबीर जी ने बताया कि जब हमारे पास प्राकृतिक कीटनाशी है तो हमें बाज़ार से पैसे देकर खरीदने की क्या जरुरत है | एस डी ओ साहिब ने किसानो को जमीन को नाइट्रोज़न देने के लिए डेंचा और दाले बोने के लिए कहा | इस अवसर पर सभी को चाय के साथ हलवा भी खिलाया गया |

पाठशाला की समाप्ति के बाद हमारी टीम डॉक्टर साहिब के साथ दैनिक भास्कर के दफ्तर गई जहाँ हमने अब तक सीखे अपने काम और अनुभवों के बारे में उन्हें बताया | इसके बाद डॉक्टर साहिब हमें हमेटी के दफ्तर लेकर गए जहाँ हमें उपहारस्वरूप मैगनीफायिंग लेन्ज दिए गये |

इग्राह में गुरप्रीत किसानो से चर्चा करते हुए

इग्राह में

हम दोपहर के 2 : 30 बजे इग्राह पहुंचे जहाँ हम मनबीर जी के घर रुके | शाम को हमारी किसानो के साथ एक मीटिंग करवाई गयी जिसमे गुरप्रीत सिंह ने पंजाब के कीटनाशको के कारण बद से बदतर होते हालात के बारे में बताया | उसने कहा कि कैसे पंजाबियों कि सेहत इन कीटनाशको के इस्तेमाल के कारन लगातार खराब हो रही है , बच्चे अपंग पैदा हो रहे है , समय से पूर्व पैदा हो रहे है और कैंसर जैसी नामुराद बीमारी पंजाब को जकड़े हुए है | अगर हरियाणा में भी ऐसे ही कीटनाशक इस्तेमाल होते रहे तो वो दिन दूर नहीं जब पंजाब जैसे हालात यहाँ भी पैदा हो जायेंगे | अंत में उसने किसानो से डॉक्टर दलाल और मनबीर जी से सहयोग करने और पाठशाला में आने कि बिनती की |

डा.सुरेन्द्र दलाल ने उपस्थित किसानो को इस खेत पाठशाला के उद्देश्य विस्तार से बताये| उन्होंने हरियाणा की धरती पर लड़ी गई सबसे घातक जंग महाभारत की तुलना पिछले तीन दशकों से किसानों व् कीटों के मध्य जारी इस कीट-युद्ध से करते हुए बताया कि महाभारत की लड़ाई इतनी भयावह थी कि आज भी हिन्दू इस जंग की किताब को अपने घर में रखते हुए डरते हैं| लेकिन फिर भी यह लड़ाई सिर्फ अठारह दिन में अपने मुकाम पर पहुँच गई थी| पर किसान व् कीटों की यह जंग पिछले तीस सालों से रुकने का नाम नही ले रही| इन दोनों जंगों के मुख्य भेदों पर चर्चा करते हुए डा.दलाल ने बताया कि महाभारत की लड़ाई में दोनों पक्षों को एक दुसरे की सही व् ठोस जानकारी थी| एक दूसरे की शक्तियों व् गतिविधियों का पूरा भेद था| पांडवों को कौरवों की सही पहचान, पूरे भेद व इनकी सारी कमजोरियों का ज्ञान था| इसी तरह कौरवों को भी पांडवों के बारे में तमाम किस्म की जानकारियां थी| जबकि इस कीटों व किसानों की वर्तमान जंग में किसानों को कीटों की सही पहचान व भेद मालूम नही है| दूसरा मुख्य फर्क हथियारों को लेकर है| महाभारत में हर योद्धा के पास दो तरह के हथियार थेः सुरक्षात्मक हथियार व् जानलेवा हथियार| लेकिन आज हमारे किसानों के पास तो सिर्फ कीटों को मारने के मारक हथियार भर ही हैं अर् वो भी बेगाने| इसीलिए तो यह जंग ख़त्म होने का नाम नही ले रही| अत: हमारी इस पाठशाला में मिलजुल कर सारा जोर कीटों एवं इनकी विभिन्न अवस्थाओं की सही पहचान करने, इनके भेद जानने तथा इस जंग में अपने खुद के हथियार विकसित करने पर रहेगा ताकि वर्षो से चली आ रही यह जंग समाप्त हो सके | डॉक्टर साहिब और मनबीर ने सभी किसानो को पाठशाला में शामिल होने का निमंत्रन दिया जिसे किसानो ने स्वीकार भी किया | अंत में मनबीर जी ने सभी का धन्यबाद किया |

डॉ.साहिब अंगीरा का कमाल दिखाते हुए

सुबह 8 बजे हम पाठशाला पहुंचे जिसमे फिर वही कार्यक्रम दोहराया गया | रस्मी शुरुआत के बाद सभी ग्रुप अपने-अपने ग्रुप लीडर के साथ कपास के खेत में पहुंचे और लगे चुरडा, सफ़ेद मक्खी और हरा तेला ढूँढने और फिर गिनने | इसी खेत में डॉक्टर साहिब ने हमे अंगीरा का कमाल भी दिखाया | हमने अंगीरा को मिली बग को ख़त्म करते देखा | बाद में सभी ने अपनी अपनी रिपोर्ट दी| क्योकि उस दिन हमें वापिस जैतो आना था सो पाठशाला का सत्र जल्दी ख़त्म कर दिया गया | मनबीर जी ने सभी का धन्यबाद किया | इग्राह से हम सभी वापिस जींद गए जहाँ डॉक्टर साहिब के साथ एक बार फिर हमने जो अब तक सीखा उस पर चर्चा की और उन्होंने हमें अलग- अलग कीटों की तस्वीरें भी दिखाई ताकि हम उन्हें पहचान सके | हमने उन्हें बताया कि हमने तो कभी सोचा ही नहीं था कि कीटों को समझना, उन्हें जानना इतना दिलचस्प हो सकता है | ये कीट तो हमसे भी ज्यादा समझदार है| जैसे क्राईसोपा अपने अंडे एक धागे के ऊपर देता है ताकि उसके अन्डो को कोई नुक्सान ना पहुंचा सके | कीटों कि दुनिया सच में बहुत ही हैरान करने वाली और दिलचस्प है और हम यह चाहेंगे कि हम इसको पंजाब में भी आगे बढ़ाए |

3 बजे हम उनके घर से निकले और डॉक्टर साहिब और उनके दोस्त

हाय रब्बा!! इतनी पढाई

हमें स्टेशन तक छोड़ने के लिए गए | उनसे विदा लेकर और फिर आने का वादा करते हुए हम अपनी मंजिल कि तरफ बढ़े | वापसी के समय ट्रेन में भी इस सब के बारे में ही बातचीत होती रही और अमरजीत बहन जी तो अपने नोट्स लेने में व्यस्त रहे | फिर गुरप्रीत ने कुदरत के गीत सुनाये जिसे सुनकर आस पास सीटों पर सो रहे यात्री भी उठ कर आ

कुदरत के गीत गाते हुए

गए और हमारा साथ गीतों को गुनगुनाया | ऐसे ही गीत गाते हुए हम अपनी मंजिल पर रात के 9 बजे हम जैतो पहुंचे और एक दूसरे से विदा ली | हम लोग बहुत खुश थे क्योकि अब हम कई कीटों को पहचान सकते थे जैसे चुरडा, सफ़ेद मक्खी, हरा तेला, क्रईसोपा, सलेटी भूंड, मिली बग आदि कुल मिला कर यह बहुत ही रोमांच से भरी हुई, शिक्षाप्रद यात्रा रही और हम अपने इस ज्ञान को और आगे बढ़ाएंगे और औरो को भी बाटेंगे |

कुछ और यादें

सफ़ेद मक्खी

हमारे सफ़र के साथी

अमनजोत कौर

स्त्री इकाई,

खेती विरासत मिशन, जैतो

माताओं ने सम्भाला सुरक्षित भोजन का मोर्चा

2011-06-18T13:03:00.000+05:30

पिछले पाँच वर्षो से खेती विरासत मिशन की स्त्री इकाई औरतो के साथ मिलकर जहर मुक्त रसोई- जहर मुक्त खुराक का नारा बुलंद कर रही है. भोतना और चैना गाँव में 150 से ज्यादा औरते जहर मुक्त रसोई और खुराक के इस अभियान में जुडी हुई है और औरो को भी रास्ता दिखा रही है. पहले औरतो ने सिर्फ़ अपने घर के लिए उगाना शुरू किया था और आपस में एक दूसरे से बाँटना फिरसे आरंभ किया जो कि गाँव कि एक खासियत होती थी. अब औरतो के पास घर की जरूरते पूरी करने के बाद और पड़ोसियों से बाँटने के बाद भी बच जाता है जिसे अब वे अपनी आय को बढ़ाने के लिए करना चाहती है. इसी के तहत भोतना, चैना और डोड गावों में स्वयं सहायता समूह बनाने की प्रकिर्या चल रही है. डोड गाँव में पहला स्वयं सहायता समूह बनाया गया है जिसके 12 सदस्य है और जिसकी मीटिंगों में 50 -60 औरते हिस्सा लेती है.

जीव अमृत बनाते हुए

4 मई को डोड गाँव में जीव अमृत बनाने की ट्रेनिंग दी गई जिसमे २० महिलाओं ने भाग लिया. गुरप्रीत सिंह, जो कि खेती विरासत मिशन में ट्रेनर है, ने यह ट्रेनिंग दी. महिलाओं ने बताया कि कई वर्षो के बाद उन्होंने एक साथ मिलकर सांझे तौर पे कुछ बनाया है. इस ट्रेनिंग में कॉलेज जाने वाली लडकियों ने भी भाग लिया . जीव अमृत के तैयार होने के बाद सभी ने आपस में बांटा.

2 रोज़ा ट्रेनिंग वर्कशॉप

16 -17 जून को कृषि विज्ञानं केंद्र, फरीदकोट के साथ मिलकर डोड गाँव कि महिलाओं के लिए फ़ूड प्रोसेसिंग की 2 दिन की ट्रेनिंग वर्कशॉप लगवाई गई जिसमे कृषि विज्ञानं केंद्र की गृह विज्ञानं माहिर नवदीप कौर ने ट्रेनिंग दी. इस ट्रेनिंग में प्रतिभागियों को शर्बत, चटनियाँ और आचार बनाने की ट्रेनिंग दी गई. अमनजोत कौर, संयोजक, स्त्री इकाई ने प्रतिभागियों को बाज़ार से कोका-कोला या अन्य कोल्ड ड्रिंक्स खरीदने की जगह घर में बने सेहतवर्धक ड्रिंक्स अपनाने पैर जोर दिया ताकि हमारे सभ्याचार के साथ साथ हमारी सेहत भी बची रहे.

मैडम नवदीप शरबत की ट्रेनिंग देते हुए

इसके साथ ही मैडम नवदीप कौर ने प्रतिभागियों को बताया कि कैसे वे इस सब के दुआरा घर बैठे अपना रोज़गार शुरू कर के घर में आर्थिक सहयोग दे सकती है.

वर्कशॉप के अंत में अमनजोत कौर ने बताया कि आगे भी इस तरह के और भी कार्यकर्म गाँव में किये जायेंगे ताकि महिलाएं न सिर्फ़ आत्मनिर्भर बन सके बल्कि गाँव के जहर मुक्ति के अभियान में भी योगदान दे सके .