Responding to National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC) directions, the Punjab Government has:
- Banned the manufacture, import and use of pesticides which are harmful to health.
- Withdrawn registration of some such pesticides in addition to limiting use of some unsafe pesticides.
- Made arrangements for educating farmers on judicious use of pesticides and their healthcare.
Why this action was taken by the Punjab Government?
These actions have been taken by state government in response to National Human Rights Commission’s (NHRC’s) suo motu cognizance of a media report which held that the disease of cancer among farmers in the Malwa region of Punjab is caused by the excessive use of pesticides.