Telangana Assembly adopts resolutions condemning West Asia war, seeking ban on herbicide
Members express concern over the increasing deaths of farmers, farmworkers after accidental, intentional consumption of the weedicide
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Context
The Telangana Legislative Assembly has passed two key resolutions. The first requests the Union Government to impose a nationwide ban on the herbicide 'paraquat dichloride' due to its high fatality rate among farmers and farmworkers, with an estimated 2,000 deaths annually. The second resolution condemns the ongoing conflict in West Asia, urging the Centre to take diplomatic initiatives to prevent its escalation.
UPSC Perspectives
Polity & Governance
This event highlights the dynamics of federalism in India's legislative framework. The regulation of insecticides and pesticides falls under the [Insecticides Act, 1968], a central legislation. However, 'Agriculture' and 'Public Health' are subjects on the State List of the [Seventh Schedule]. While the ultimate power to ban a pesticide nationwide rests with the central government, Section 27 of the Act empowers a state government to prohibit the sale and use of an insecticide for a temporary period (up to 60 days, extendable by 30 days) if it poses a risk to public safety. The resolution by Telangana, and similar past actions by Kerala and Odisha, showcases states using their limited powers to address urgent public health crises while pressuring the Centre for a permanent, nationwide policy change. The second resolution, on foreign policy, is a purely political statement. 'Foreign Affairs' is an exclusive subject on the Union List, and state resolutions on it have no legal effect but serve as a form of political expression.
Environmental & Agricultural
The call to ban [Paraquat Dichloride] underscores the negative externalities of modern agricultural inputs. This herbicide, while effective for weed control, is highly toxic with no known antidote, leading to high mortality from accidental or intentional consumption. It is reportedly banned in about 70 countries but remains in use in India, often for crops beyond its approved scope. This situation reflects a broader policy challenge of balancing agricultural productivity with environmental safety and human health. Various expert bodies, including the [Anupam Verma Committee], were formed to review the use of pesticides that are banned or restricted elsewhere but continue to be used in India. The persistent demand for a ban on substances like paraquat highlights the need for a stronger regulatory framework that prioritizes sustainable agriculture and promotes safer alternatives, such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and bio-pesticides, to mitigate the adverse impacts on ecosystems and farming communities.
Social & Ethical
The high number of deaths linked to paraquat is a grave issue of agrarian distress and public health. The easy availability of such a lethal substance provides a means for farmer suicides, which are often driven by debt, crop failure, and emotional distress. The article's claim of 2,000 annual deaths highlights a significant governance failure in protecting vulnerable populations. This issue intersects with the fundamental [Right to Life] under [Article 21] of the Constitution, which the Supreme Court has interpreted to include the right to a healthy and safe environment. The state's resolution can be seen as an attempt to fulfill its obligations under the [Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP)], specifically those concerning the improvement of public health. The ethical dimension involves the responsibility of the state to control access to hazardous materials and the duty of corporations that manufacture and promote such chemicals despite their known dangers.