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| Dr.Y.S.Mohan Kumar, Pedra, Kasaragod |
In 1982, after completing MBBS from Karnataka, Dr.Y.S.Mohan Kumar started a clinic in his village Pedra in Kasaragod District based on the advice of his father. Though he had expected patients with common ailments, he was in for a shock as most of them were suffering from serious problems like epilepsy, skin diseases, cancer, birth defects, abortions etc.
Other symptoms were: polluted stream of Kodankari, diminishing number of frogs and birds etc. In those days, when it was difficult to gather information from even the adjacent Panchayat, he was unable to recognize any pattern.
In 1990, he prepared a list of 50 patients and sent it to a senior psychiatrist in Karnataka. He soon updated it to 120 patients in 200 homes. In 1996 through a medical journal he offered to give the data to interested researchers. That too did not attract any attention.
The beekeepers of the village had a hunch that the destruction of their livelihood was directly linked to the aerial spraying of pesticide endosulphan by the 5000-acre State-owned Plantation Corporation in the neighbourhood. Their apprehensions were rubbished by the Corporation authorities, who asked for proof.
It was the beginning of a people’s struggle for existence. Despite a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Delhi study in 2001 that pointed out alarming levels of the pesticide in streams and human bodies, authorities insisted on an official study. This was conducted by the agricultural university which said that it was unable to pin the blame on endosulphan.
During this time, the doctor came under attack from several corners. Indian Medical Association wanted to enquire about his bonafides. There were threats galore.
But he was undeterred by such developments. By the time court ordered a ban, about 8000 people in 11 panchayats had been victims of a quarter century of pesticide rain.
Sruti, a victim born with a twisted right foot below the knee was amputated and fitted with an artificial leg. “Seeing her take the first steps was the most satisfying moment of my life,” he says about his three decade struggle for health of the villagers.
Courtesy:
Vijeesh Gopinath (text), Nikhil Raj (photo), Vanitha, January 15-31,
2011
Contributed by: Administrator
