Lok Sabha Question No. 3561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-16
Subject: Health Hazards of Pesticides
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KURUPPASSERY VARKEY THOMAS

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3561 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16 TH MARCH, 2018

## HEALTH HAZARDS OF PE STICIDES

## 3561. PROF. K.V. THOMAS: SHRI SUNIL JAKHAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  occupational  exposure  to pesticides has led to deaths in various States of the country including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana and Maharashtra in 2017 - 18;
- (b) if so, details thereof including the number of deaths and hospitalization reported during each of the last three years, State/UT - wise;
- (c) whether the Government has given any assistance to the people who are suffering due to pesticides like Endosulfan and if so, the details thereof, State/UT - wis ;A nd
- (d) the other corrective measures taken in this regard including detection of such pesticides by the Government?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a)& (b): The  details  of  deaths  reported  by  respective  States/  UTs  caused  by  t inhalation of Pesticides for the year 2015 - 16 to 2017 - 18 as per Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare are at Annexure. The details of hospitalisation are not available.
- (c): U nder the National Health Mission, approval of Rs. 22.19 crore has been provided relief and rehabilitation of patients affected by endosulfan as per proposal of State during 2012 - 13 to 2017 -18.
- (d): The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and Farmers  Welfare  has  informed  that  the  following measures are being taken:
- I. The    'Strengthening  and  Modernization  of  Pest  Management  Approach  in  India' (SMPMA)  Scheme  is  being  implemented  through  35  Central  Integrated  Pest Management  Centres  (CIPMCs)  establ ished  across  the  country  to keep  pest population  below economic  thresholds  level  by  employing  available  alternate  pest control strategies and techniques viz. preventive measures, cultural, mechanica biological control with greater emphasis on usage of bio - pesticides and pesticides of plant - origin like Neem formulation etc.
- II. IPMCs inter alia, produce biological agents for release in the fields, conserve bio - control agents, promote bio - pesticides as an alternative to chemical pesticides an advocate judicious and safe use of chemical pesticides as a last resort.
- III. The CIPMCs are also organiz ing Farmers Field Schools (FFSs) to sensitize farmers on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
- IV. The package  of  practices  for  control  of  pests  and  diseases  in  87  crops  have revised  to  include  techniques  to  reduce  dependence on  chemical  pesticides  and encourage use of bio - pesticides and other alternative plant protection measures.
- V. Timely  advisories  are  being  issued  by  the  Ministry  to  the  State  Governme disseminating, inter alia management stra tegies to prevent pests attack .
- VI. The State  Governments  through  various  forums  such  as  Zonal  Conferences  and National Conference are requested to exhort their extension functionaries to ed and  impart  training  to  farmers  on  efficacious  and  sustainable  pest  manageme strategies /app roaches and to maintain constant surveillance.
- VII. A 'Monitoring  of  Pesticide  Residues  at  National  Level'  (MPRNL)  scheme  is  also being implemented , under which food commodities and environmental samples are collected and analyzed for the presence of pesticid e residues The annual reports of MPRNL are shared with the States for taking corrective measures.

## Details of deaths reported by respective States/ UTs caused by the inhalation of Pesticides

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|   S.No. | State/UT       | 2015- 16                                                             | 2016- 17                                                             | 2017- 18                                                         | Remarks                                                                                               |
|---------|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Andhra Pradesh | Such cases are not reported in Pradesh                               | Such cases are not reported in Pradesh                               | Such cases are not reported in Pradesh                           | Andhra                                                                                                |
|       2 | Bihar          | Not reported                                                         | Not reported                                                         | Not reported                                                     |                                                                                                       |
|       3 | Goa            | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                              |                                                                                                       |
|       4 | Gujarat        | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                              |                                                                                                       |
|       5 | Maharashtra    | 47                                                                   | 73                                                                   | 63                                                               | Causalities reported due                                                                              |
|       6 | Uttarakhand    | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                              |                                                                                                       |
|       7 | Daman and Diu  | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                              |                                                                                                       |
|       8 | Lakshadweep    | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                                  | Nil                                                              |                                                                                                       |
|       9 | Assam          | No such cases have been reported from district of the State till     | No such cases have been reported from district of the State till     | No such cases have been reported from district of the State till | any date.                                                                                             |
|      10 | Karnataka      | 2                                                                    | 1                                                                    | Not Available                                                    | Causalities reported due to pesticide poisoning                                                       |
|      11 | Jharkhand      | No report of such deaths                                             | No report of such deaths                                             | No report of such deaths                                         |                                                                                                       |
|      12 | Odisha         | Not Available with Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer's              | Welfare                                                              | No deaths have been reported                                     |                                                                                                       |
|      13 | Telangana      | Not Available with Ministry Agriculture and Farmer's                 | Not Available with Ministry Agriculture and Farmer's                 | of No deaths have been reported                                  |                                                                                                       |
|      14 | Tamil Nadu     | Welfare Not Available with Ministry Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare | Welfare Not Available with Ministry Agriculture and Farmer's Welfare | of 3                                                             | Causalities due excessive usage pesticides and of safety measures while spraying.                     |
|      15 | Punjab         | 112                                                                  | 57                                                                   | 64                                                               |                                                                                                       |
|      16 | Rajasthan      | 12                                                                   | 3                                                                    | 5                                                                | Causalities reported due pesticide poisoning (including Suicidal, Homicidal, Accidental Occupational) |