FAIL (the browser should render some flash content, not this).

Skip Navigation Links

Skip Navigation Links Skip Navigation Links Skip Navigation Links Green Peace The study, using a Rapid Assessment Tool(RAT)that helps researchers document the abilities of children and assess their development, was conducted in Bathinda in Punjab(Bangi Nihal Singh, Jajjal and Mahi nangal villages).These results were then compared with the results of a control group -children belonging to similar demographic groups but not exposed to pesticides. Amritsar,March 17 2004 : Greenpeace along with its Punjab project partner Kheti Virasat , today released shocking findings from Punjab of its national level health study,Arrested Development,at a seminar on environmental Health conducted by Kheti Virasat in Amritsar today.The multi centric ,cross sectional studies have revealed distressing effects of pesticides on the mental health development of children (4-5 years and 9-13 years were the studied age groups ) almost agricultural communities that use pesticides intensively.The study was conducted in 18 villages of six states of India,chosen for their high levels of pesticide consumption. In Punjab ,the difference between the study Group and Control Group children is singularly stark.Control Group Children displayed better abilities than Study Group Children IN 85% of the tests administered to the 9-13 age group of children "When we started out on this study ,it was with the awareness that we would probably find unsetting evidence of children damaged by neuro-toxic chemicals present in pesticides."said Kavita Kurungati, Principal Investigator of the study ,"But nothing could have prepared us for the extent of damage we'ddiscover.We've seen children unable to perform simple play based exercises ,standard indicators of development like catching a ball or assembling a jigjaw puzzle- simply because they've been exposed to pesticides over a period of time." Umendra dutt of Kheti Virasat said,"Farmers of Punjab who are known for their hardwork and enterprice would not have dreamt of leaving this legacy fpor their children. Today,they seem to be paying a high price for no fault of theirs-the very development of their children has been compromised here."