Government should make Regulations Rigid

Promote organic farming. Ban the use of pesticides and chemicals, and if  it is being used its restricted amount should be decided. If the user would not consider this caution or instruction, should be punished. There should be a close vigilance on the use so that steps can be taken immediately, if not followed. pesticide manufacturers and local NGOs or WHO like agencies should step forward to provide training or seminar giving knowledge about the detailed usage or dosage by trained agriculturists of extension educationists. There is CIBRC (Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee) to register pesticides for crops and FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) to set the maximum residue limit (MRL) of pesticides for the crops it has been registered for. In reality, farmers are buying whatever local shopkeeper recommends. He may end up spraying the non-registered chemicals and not considering their MRL set by the Government, which is many times over the safety limit. These over sprayed pesticide laden food reaches to our plates. If the acts, rules and laws remains actively rigid, there would not be loose ends. It ultimately leads to the sustainability to our surroundings, atmosphere or environment.

These days GST is an additional thing in the economics’ world. Govt. should relax GST on the organic products like all agricultural food, clothing etc. produces. Other products which are made up of waste and are environment friendly like bricks from fly ash, organic paints and so many consumer goods. Due to high rates and monopoly in market, consumer hesitate to buy these things. Freeing from tax on the like products make the consumers more freer to buy some.

Similarly, the use of medicines especially foreign should be limited, that too on the lowest monetary investment. Then only it will reach the mass widely. Ayurvedic, Homeopathic medicines and remedies should be promoted at subsidized rates. Govt. doctors and other employees should be instructed not to take high fee, however nominal fee can be taken, both on check up and medication.

Banned products in foreign countries, should also be banned here also. The result behind banning should be studied in a well manner and that should be published amongst industrialists, manufacturers, even consumers. All have right to know about the reason of banning and their harmful effects on use. There is a clear conflict of interest.

Government appoints a committee but not much follow up regularly. So vigilance should be close and honest. Rigidness in laws should be present. If we don’t have the resources to conduct the reviews, then should we not learn from the experience of the countries and international bodies like WHO?

Government should discontinue the manufacturing of these kinds of pesticides, medicines and chemicals which are continuously poison people’s lives. Organic farming should be legalised as the standard method of farming, which supports not to use above things. Pricing strategy in market should be set by govt. stakeholders, consumers and manufacturers obviously, and it should be a win-win solution for all. If the market is full of only those products which should be at every door step, then consumer will buy that only and make their habit.

By- Dr. Bhawana Asnani.

Happy to see Reviews, Additions, Suggestions and Comments, further.