Ban On Some Agro Chemicals Likely

Union labour secretary Laxmidhar Mishra said he proposed to call a meeting of various ministries including agriculture, rural areas, child and women development and education.

Mishra had last month been to Geneva to chair a tripartite meeting on improving conditions of employment and work of agricultural wage workers in the context of economic restructuring.

The conclusions arrived at the meeting would be placed before the Indian labour conference to be held here on October 24 and 25, he said. Mentioning the adverse effect of agro-chemicals on workers, Mishra said that during the meeting it was pointed out that 15,000 workers engaged in banana plantation in Costa Rica had become impotent.

Similarly, in another country, women workers developed gynecological problems as a result of use of some agro-chemicals, he said.

The participants from 90 countries at the meeting were unanimous in their view that such agro-chemicals should be banned and suggested that a awareness campaign should be launched in every country against their use.