IET Bhaddal Ropar organized seminar on ‘Protect your Children from Toxic Pesticides’ at PCA Mohali in collaboration with Kheti Virasat Mission and Pesticide Action Network-India. Dr.Bruce Lanphear, Professor at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada was the Key note seminar. He spoke how the health and intelligence of our children is under grave danger due to agro chemicals (pesticides) and how to protect our children from these toxic pesticides even low level exposure to toxins can be harmful, especially for children. Dr.Bruce said Children in India are being exposed to varioushazardous toxins such as lead, pesticides, mercury etc.In this session Mr C JayKumar Director Pesticide Action Network-India spoke on harmful effects of pesticides. He said there are many pesticides which are banned for manufacture import and use in India but are regularly in practice which, in turn, affect our and children’s health. Dr. D. Narsimha Reddy member consultive committee Cotton Advisery Board said that pesticides are not a problem of agriculture only These also effect children for example when children go to school by weeding through a crop sprayed with pesticide. He said we have to work on pesticide regulation (which is pending with Govt. of India) example of pesticides presence in Coca Cola in the past. He said pesticides are leading to widespread cancer (disease) in Bhatinda-Punjab.
Dr.Sachin Gupta, Cancer Specialist of Environemnt health action and research group, spoke on treatment through chemicals. He told “Prevention is better than cure” through the use of organic food. He said Eat raw food eating of processed food is harmful. Yoga and walk is also equally important.Dr. J.S.Thakur School of Public Health PGI Chandigarh told that he has conducted pesticides studies in Punjab as deputed by Punjab Government (Punjab pollution control board) to study water quality in Punjab. He said that cancer danger was higher in Malwa as compared to Chamkaur Sahib Distt.Ropar Punjab as per studies conducted by him. He told that metals like cadmium, uranium along with pesticides are present in Punjab water which affect that health of our children.Dr. Dogra stressed upon the frequent use of seasonable Vegetables and fruits.
Mr. Umendra Dutt of Kheti Virasat Mission told about harmful effects and endosulphan (a pesticide). It has since been banned by Govt. of India.Kulwinder Gurcharan Singh Chancellor, IET Bhaddal , welcome and thanked the guests for their valuable guidance pertaining to pesticides harmful effects on the health of children. She emphasized on discouraging the use of food items, contaminated with pesticides. Rana Surinder Singh Chairman IET Bhaddal said that outcome of seminar should be reach to general public. Dr. J. S. Kanwar Director IET Bhaddal was also present on the occasion.