May
7, 2026, New Delhi : A high-level roundtable on the “Impact of
Paraquat on Public Health in India” convened on 6th of May at the India
Habitat Centre, bringing together Members of Parliament, policymakers, public
health experts, clinicians, agricultural specialists, and civil society
representatives to deliberate on the urgent need for action on one of the most
hazardous herbicides still in use in the country.
Organised
by ETI Services in collaboration with The University of Edinburgh, the
convening focused on aligning evidence, policy, and on-ground realities to
address the significant public health risks associated with paraquat.
In
her opening remarks, Dr. Sukriti Chauhan, CEO, ETI Services, underscored the
human and systemic dimensions of the issue, stating, “Public health is
ultimately a question of justice; of whose lives are protected and whose risks
are overlooked. Paraquat poisoning is not just a clinical issue; it has deep
social consequences for rural families, pushing households into cycles of
distress. Addressing this requires alignment across different sectors and
collaborative action that is grounded in both evidence and lived realities.”
Dr.
Dalbir Singh, a renowned senior policymaker, President of the Global Coalition
Against TB and President, Policymakers Forum for Mental Health said, “The issue
of Paraquat sits at the intersection of agricultural policy, public health and
suicide prevention in view of its high toxicity and rampant accessibility
resulting in agonizing deaths. It is therefore time to evolve a data-driven
strategy to invest in safer alternatives.”
Shri
Rapolu Ananda Bhaskar, Honourable Former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
highlighted the need for taking the issue from states like Telangana to the
Centre. “As we achieved the Endosulfan
ban in 2011” he noted, “now we can achieve a ban of Paraquat Herbicide.
Paraquat exposure is fatal and the Parliament and Government have started
responding to the issue. Farmers’ leaders, scientists, doctors and activists,
with ETI’ initiative, shall deepen the understanding of the need for removing
the manufacture of paraquat, taking its toxicity and immediate and long-term
impact into consideration. Platforms like Amazon have removed the sale of
Paraquat, likewise, the Union Government must also impose a ban on the paraquat
herbicide.”
Bringing
a global and policy perspective forward, Bhawesh Jha, Project and Policy
Officer, The University of Edinburgh highlighted emerging regulatory trends:
“Paraquat stands out as one of the most lethal pesticides in use today, with no
effective antidote. Encouragingly, steps taken by states like Odisha and
Telangana, including moves towards restricting or banning its use, point in the
right direction. Evidence from India and globally shows that limiting access to
highly hazardous pesticides can significantly reduce preventable deaths without
harming agriculture.”
Speakers
also highlighted the scale of the problem and the feasibility of transitioning
away from paraquat without compromising agricultural productivity. Dr. G.V.
Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director, Centre for Sustainable Agriculture,
emphasised that, “India can phase out paraquat without affecting agricultural
production by strengthening integrated weed management practices that Indian
farmers have traditionally used, including inter-cultivation, mulching, cover
crops, crop rotation, and mechanical weeding. Several states and farming
communities across India are already successfully reducing dependence on
hazardous herbicides through ecological and low-cost alternatives. Continued
reliance on paraquat poses serious risks to farm workers, rural families, and
public health, while safer and practical weed management options are readily
available for Indian agriculture. A phased national ban, combined with farmer
support, custom hiring centres, and extension services, can protect both
agricultural productivity and the health of farming communities.”
Bringing
in clinical evidence, Prof. Peter Victor John, Senior Professor at the
Department of Medicine/Critical Care, Christian Medical College, Vellore, noted
the severity of paraquat poisoning outcomes: “In this era of innovative
agriculture, an old herbicide, paraquat, is resulting in countless deaths due
to deliberate or accidental ingestion. In the absence of an antidote and with
death rates of over 75% in paraquat poisoning despite appropriate medical care,
it is time to consider the ban of this compound in India and replace it with
safer alternatives. This would result in lives saved without the loss of crop
productivity.”
Dr.
Mahesh Reddy Marri from the Association of Doctors Against Paraquat stressed the
urgency of regulatory action, stating: “Paraquat must be banned. It is a highly
toxic poison with no antidote, and far too often, exposure, whether accidental
or intentional, which result in death. Allowing its continued use, despite the
existence of safer alternatives, is an avoidable risk that no public health
system should accept. It’s time for us to take collective action.”
Dr.
Shankar Ramchandani, Assistant Professor, VIMSAR Odisha and Founder, One-Rupee
Clinic emphasised “As there is no antidote to paraquat, and the fatality is
high, putting a ban is the only solution. Human lives are much more precious
than business, and today’s platform offers a splendid combination of doctors,
agriculturists, law makers, and farmers for advocacy to ban paraquat in India.”
Discussions
throughout the roundtable emphasised the need for a phased national ban on
paraquat, supported by farmer-centric transition strategies, strengthened
surveillance systems, and integrated policy action across agriculture and
health sectors.