<p>On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti last Sunday, people in huge groups came together to celebrate ‘Jashn-e-Sarson’ at Dilli Haat, INA. An initiative of the Tourism and Art and Culture Language departments of the Delhi government, the event was aimed at raising awareness by collecting feedback about genetically modified mustard (GM mustard) which might soon be approved by the central <br />government. <br /><br /></p>.<p>“As many as 100 such events are taking place today in 18 states under the banner of ‘Sarson Satyagrah’,” said Kavita Kuruganti, coordinator, Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA).<br /><br />Right from the entrance, the place was filled with posters about the health and environmental hazards that activists say genetically modified mustard (GM mustard) can cause, if approved by the government. <br /><br />Starting September 5, the Genetically Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) gave a month’s time to the government for collecting feedback from the public about their views on GM mustard. It is after considering this feedback that the government will take steps to consider approval for GM mustard, developed by Deepak Pental. <br /><br />The fight against GM crops in India started around 14 years ago, when a joint venture between Monsanto (American agricultural company headquartered in Missouri) and Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) introduced Bt cotton technology to India in 2002. While the crop is not directly consumed, there are concerns about it being carcinogenic.<br /><br />Mustard is a crop which is used in many household in India, for direct consumption in cooking and other health benefits. Mustard seed is also used in Ayurveda for both external application and oral use for treating infections. <br /><br />However, Pental has argued that GM mustard contains the same three genes that are found in Canola imported into India from Canada. Field trials and eighteen years of consumption in India have established their safety, he said in a report last year. <br />GM mustard is 20-30 per cent more productive than conventional mustard and could plug India’s cooking oil deficit to a large extent, according to Pental. <br /><br />There was also some positive feedback about GM mustard at the event, but mostly feedback on the crop was negative.<br /><br />The event also included cultural performances, charkha spinnings, tel malish (massage with mustard oil), Gandhi bhajans and debates on GM mustard. “These activities are organised to remind people of Gandhi’s own satyagraha. It is also a search for truth and scientific integrity,” quipped Kuruganti.<br /><br />According to her, government regulators have been hiding data about GM mustard and are non-participatory and unscientific about it. <br /><br />Explaining, she said, “When Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) brinjal was debated in this country seven years ago, public took around six months to get back to the regulators with their feedback. But this was possible only because full data was published on the website.”<br /><br />Some volunteers at the event claimed that hybrids of mustard that perform better than GM hybrids, are already available in the market. <br /><br />“The developers of GM mustard say that the yield will be 2,060 tons per hectare. When we already have about 2,008 tons producing hybrid varieties, why do we need GM mustard?” said Rachna Arora, core committee member, Coalition for a GM Free India. <br /><br />However, in this debate of GM mustard being beneficial or hazardous, many people are unaware of what a GM crop is. <br /><br />“A majority of people who have been giving feedback today don’t even know what GM crops are. It is only after we explain it to them that they are ready to write about it. But there are also some people who support the approval of GM mustard,” volunteer Ajay Etikala told Metrolife. <br /></p>
<p>On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti last Sunday, people in huge groups came together to celebrate ‘Jashn-e-Sarson’ at Dilli Haat, INA. An initiative of the Tourism and Art and Culture Language departments of the Delhi government, the event was aimed at raising awareness by collecting feedback about genetically modified mustard (GM mustard) which might soon be approved by the central <br />government. <br /><br /></p>.<p>“As many as 100 such events are taking place today in 18 states under the banner of ‘Sarson Satyagrah’,” said Kavita Kuruganti, coordinator, Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA).<br /><br />Right from the entrance, the place was filled with posters about the health and environmental hazards that activists say genetically modified mustard (GM mustard) can cause, if approved by the government. <br /><br />Starting September 5, the Genetically Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) gave a month’s time to the government for collecting feedback from the public about their views on GM mustard. It is after considering this feedback that the government will take steps to consider approval for GM mustard, developed by Deepak Pental. <br /><br />The fight against GM crops in India started around 14 years ago, when a joint venture between Monsanto (American agricultural company headquartered in Missouri) and Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) introduced Bt cotton technology to India in 2002. While the crop is not directly consumed, there are concerns about it being carcinogenic.<br /><br />Mustard is a crop which is used in many household in India, for direct consumption in cooking and other health benefits. Mustard seed is also used in Ayurveda for both external application and oral use for treating infections. <br /><br />However, Pental has argued that GM mustard contains the same three genes that are found in Canola imported into India from Canada. Field trials and eighteen years of consumption in India have established their safety, he said in a report last year. <br />GM mustard is 20-30 per cent more productive than conventional mustard and could plug India’s cooking oil deficit to a large extent, according to Pental. <br /><br />There was also some positive feedback about GM mustard at the event, but mostly feedback on the crop was negative.<br /><br />The event also included cultural performances, charkha spinnings, tel malish (massage with mustard oil), Gandhi bhajans and debates on GM mustard. “These activities are organised to remind people of Gandhi’s own satyagraha. It is also a search for truth and scientific integrity,” quipped Kuruganti.<br /><br />According to her, government regulators have been hiding data about GM mustard and are non-participatory and unscientific about it. <br /><br />Explaining, she said, “When Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) brinjal was debated in this country seven years ago, public took around six months to get back to the regulators with their feedback. But this was possible only because full data was published on the website.”<br /><br />Some volunteers at the event claimed that hybrids of mustard that perform better than GM hybrids, are already available in the market. <br /><br />“The developers of GM mustard say that the yield will be 2,060 tons per hectare. When we already have about 2,008 tons producing hybrid varieties, why do we need GM mustard?” said Rachna Arora, core committee member, Coalition for a GM Free India. <br /><br />However, in this debate of GM mustard being beneficial or hazardous, many people are unaware of what a GM crop is. <br /><br />“A majority of people who have been giving feedback today don’t even know what GM crops are. It is only after we explain it to them that they are ready to write about it. But there are also some people who support the approval of GM mustard,” volunteer Ajay Etikala told Metrolife. <br /></p>
