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Letter
from Kheti Virasat, Punjab - 1
KHETI
VIRASAT, PUNJAB
St. No.-1, Kamla Colony, Patiala Gate,
Nabha - 147201: Ph# 01765 - 524907
Email: khetivirasat@khetivirasat.com
Dear Web Master PunjabiLok,
Sat Shri Akal - Namaskar
Herewith I am introducing a voluntary organization -Kheti Virasat to
you. Ours is a group of concerned young citizens of Punjab. The
Kheti Virasat is dedicated to the issues of ecology, environment,
sustainable- development, organic farming, conservation of natural
resource management in Punjab .We are also working for propagating
the promotion of indigenous technology, traditional wisdom and
native seeds of various crops and breeds of Cow.
We
choose this path & this challenge ourself. Because it is, our
firm and well thought conviction that to save our Punjab from
natural disaster and unsought catastrophe, we should act today.
Otherwise, tomorrow will be too late. We have to save and serve the
Mother Nature today for the sake of our own future generations.
We believe that only through sustainable life-systems, we can live a
happy, healthy and prosperous life. The prosperity generated from
the Green revolution is on brink of collapse within 35 years only.
More then 1500 farmers committed suicide in Punjab in last four
years.
Madam / Sir, the question before us today is we inherited our
healthy natural resources from our forefathers, but what will we
leave behind for our future generations? It is very easy to write
-" I love Punjab", "I am proud to be a Punjabi",
"Punjab is Great", but do We understand what is the real
meaning of these words. The Punjab stripped of its rich biological
resources and natural wealth can it be called, a great or proud
worthy land.
It is evident that State of Punjab is pioneer in bringing Green
Revolution in India. Today Punjab is producing highest amount of
wheat and paddy for the whole nation. But since last decade Punjab
is facing adverse impacts of the Green Revolution and highly
chemicalized, mechanized and resource intensive agriculture. Punjab
is paying ecological, environmental, social, cultural and economic
cost of this revolution. We have the power to destroy nature, but
the question is whether we have the wisdom to preserve it. Since a
long time, man has acquired the habit of playing with nature in
order to exploit it for his selfish ends, forgetting that for a
healthy and sustainable life there has to be interdependence with
Nature and not its exploitation. In his greed, he is ready, guided
by his short-term vision, to squeeze out all that given by Mother
Earth, all its resources and all its riches. Unfortunately, he has
only the illusion that he has succeeded-he closes his eyes to the
fact that instead of gaining he is actually in the process of paying
a very heavy price.
After the Green-revolution, with the coordinated effort of the
policy makers, the scientists and the farmers of India in general
and of Punjab in particular, India may have become self-sufficient
as far as the production of food grains is concerned but the after
math of this exercise was never thought of. The Green Revolution,
which was ushered with such fanfare, necessitated a very heavy use
of synthetic and chemical fertilizers. Over four decades of their
indiscriminate use is posing today a distinct threat to Mother
Nature, Man and the Environment.
Green revolution gave us pesticides and other agro-chemicals, new
variety of seeds, European breeds of cattle, several types of
machines etc., whereas it has taken away all our native varieties of
seeds, cow breeds, traditional systems of agriculture, our all
precious natural resources mainly-water and bio-diversity.
The hazardous chemicals & pesticides introduced during and after
Green revolution have posed a great threat to the ecology and
environment of our country. The massive use of these agro- chemicals
has become a disaster for the Eco & agriculture friendly birds
and insects. Today it is very rare to sight any earthworm, crows,
dancing peacocks, humming bird, or even vultures. Fireflies and
butterflies have almost disappeared. They have almost become extinct
due to extensive use of harmful pesticides. Agro-biodiversity and
animal biodiversity of Punjab have given way to monoculture.
Moreover, the ground water table in the past 20 years has recorded a
dangerous decrease from 15 feet to 100-150 feet or even more.
Ruthless over-exploitation of this precious resource has led to this
situation. Out of total 138 development blocks of Punjab, 11
development blocks were declared as Dark Zones, i.e. there is no
ground water in these areas. Further 72 blocks as over exploited or
Grey Zones. Secondly, use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has
led to the pollution of water resources of Punjab and the ground
water is contaminated with Chromium, Selenium & Nitrates.
Due to contamination, the topsoil is also sick with severe
deficiency of micronutrients. Decreasing carbon content is losing
the water & nutrient holding capacity of the soil as well as
organic matter such as bacteria; fungi etc. are on the verge of
destruction due to high toxic selenium levels in Punjab.
The excessive uses of chemical fertilizers like urea, DAP, NPK and
other pesticides, etc. have resulted in the disorders of
endocrine glands. The incidence of occurrence of cancer, kidney
failure, Asthma, skin problems and diseases of digestive track has
increased by 20-25% in Punjab. Youngsters at the age of 25-30 are
starting to suffer from heart ailments and there is an increasing
loss of male & female fertility, setting in of early puberty
among girls, immuno-suppression, hormone disruption, and
reproductive abnormalities. Food, water and milk including breast
milk are contaminated with some of the chemicals A mean level of
total DDT in breast milk is 17.18 parts per million in Ludhiana; and
26.66 ppm in Faridkot. In Punjab traces of endosulphan a dangerous
chemical, already banned in Europe, and other pesticides like those
that DDT & HCH have been found in the most safe &
sacred substance like the mother's milk. Overuse of endosulphan
especially in Punjab and Kerala has resulted in the birth of MR
children. It has also resulted in the increase of genetic disorders
in children There are several reports of increasing cancer cases in
Punjab. Even exceptional increase in cancer cases in Bhatinda area
led to an enquiry ordered by state government. The consumption of
chemical fertilizers in Punjab is highest in the country. The
scientist community in world expressing their serious concerns about
the very use of pesticides, but we are increasing the use of
agro-chemicals. This will result in dangerous and fatal to our
future generations.
Kheti Virasat is working hard with its little resources to create
awareness about this devastating threat to Punjab. It is my humble
submission to you to support this cause. Therefore, I am approaching
to you. Please find few of our reports and notes as attachments. I
am sending this information material for your kind appraisal.
Awaiting your positive response. Please do reply.
Thanking you.
With heartiest regards
Yours truly,
Director
Kheti Virasat
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