The study was conducted in 18 villages of six states of India,
chosen for their high levels of pesticide consumption. (Note 1:
List of locations).
The study, using a Rapid Assessment Tool (RAT) that helps
researchers document the abilities of children and assess their
development, was conducted in Bhatinda 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.
In Punjab, the difference between the Study Group and Control
Group children is singularly stark. Control Group children in the
4-5 year age group performed conclusively better in 91% of the
tests administered. 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 unsettling evidence of children damaged
by neuro-toxic chemicals present in pesticides," said Kavitha
Kuruganti, Principal Investigator of the study, "But nothing could
have prepared us for the extent of damage we'd discover. We've seen
children unable to perform simple play-based exercises, standard
indicators of development, like catching a ball or assembling a
jigsaw 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 hard work and enterprise would not have dreamt of
leaving this legacy for 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".
"On one hand, a 'shining' India prides itself on producing the
best brains in the world. On the other hand, as this study
demonstrates, the insidious chronic impacts of pesticides are
challenging the mental development and health of the next
generation of Indians," said Divya Raghunandan, Greenpeace
campaigner. "The Precautionary Principle has never been more
acutely needed than in the case of pesticides. It is time that the
pesticides industry is made accountable", she added with the
following demands:
Greenpeace calls upon the Indian government to immediately ban
manufacture and sale of all Class1 a, 1b and Class II pesticides
and all neuro-endocrine disruptors, including pesticides banned in
developed world as a first step towards the complete phasing out of
pesticides.
Greenpeace calls upon the government to support the farming
communities by creating mechanisms and infrastructure that provide
greater support to organic farming and other non-pesticide and non-
GE (genetically engineered) agricultural practices.
Greenpeace calls upon the Pesticide industry to accept its
liability and provide compensation and rehabilitation for all
victims of pesticides poisoning, including children.
For further information, please contact:
Divya Raghunandan, Campaigner, Greenpeace India-
+91-98-455-35406 
Namrata Chowdhary, Media Officer, Greenpeace India-
+91-98-108-50092 
Notes to Editors:
1. List of Study Locations:
· Warangal in Andhra Pradesh (Atmakur, Oglapur and Peddapur
villages)
· Raichur in Karnataka (Khanapur, Manjerla and Poorthipli
villages)
· Bhatinda in Punjab (Bangi Nihal Singh, Jajjal and Mahi Nangal
villages)
· Bharuch in Gujarat (Halder, Kavitha and Samlod villages)
· Yavatmal in Maharashtra (Dahelitanda, Kopamandvi and Sunna
villages)
· Theni in Tamil Nadu (Rassingapuram, Silamalai and Visuvaspuram
villages)