BHOJRAJ UIKE hands over a new white apron to his friend Nilesh Bagde, and both share a laugh. The apron is part of a three-piece kit that Nilesh received this year from the government for use while spraying pesticide on his cotton crop at Taroda village in Kalamb tehsil of Yavatmal district. Behind the laughter is a story of change. Last year this time, Uike (26) and Bagde (24) were undergoing treatment for poisoning due to pesticide inhalation. Now, both are beneficiaries of an ambitious awareness drive on the use of pesticides in their fields.
In July and August, officials say, at least 28,000 safety kits — masks, gloves and synthetic aprons — were distributed free of cost in Yavatmal as part of this initiative. And the results, they say, are showing. Last year, 22 deaths were reported from Yavatmal due to pesticide poisoning. This year, official figures show, the slate was clean in the state’s “cotton district” where the crop is spread across 4.5 lakh hectares.
Read more of this in a report by Vivek Deshpande published in The Indian Express....
