Endosulfan, a highly toxic pesticide, has become a topic of burning discussion in India, particularly in Kerala during the 1990s after several media reports and stories of individuals suffering from hitherto unknown illness were widely reported from Kasaragod, Kerala. Many of these reports and field studies pointed to the fact that the illnesses were occurred as a consequence to exposure to endosulfan- an insecticide applied aerially on to the cashew plantations. During 1963-64, the Kerala Agriculture Department started planting cashew in Kasaragod district. In 1978, the Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) took over the estate and endosulfan trials were started in 1977-1978.

Endosulfan poisoning was first reported in the media in 1979 by Sri. Shree Padre, a farm journalist. Many health problems appeared to manifest among people and many other living species including domestic animals in the village. Assessments and studies shed light to fact that many children were born with disabilities and chronic health problems. Peculiar and complex health implications and illness those were practically non-existent before the endosulfan aerial spraying was reported from Kasaragod. It include conditions such as congenital anomalies, mental retardation, physical deformities, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and psychiatric problems; different types of cancers, infertility, miscarriages, endomeriosis and hormonal irregularities among women, reproductive and developmental disorders were reported from villages where endosulfan poured in. Rheumatic complaints, paralysis and skin disorders, respiratory diseases, frequent and persistent illness indicating possible immune systems disorders have been reported.

The community struggle against aerial spraying began as early as 1980 and the demand towards banning endosulfan started in late 1990s. Following the protest, media reports and demands from the ground, several committees were constituted to investigate the issues. Various reports in the following years have pointed that endosulfan spraying has contributed to polluting water resources that community had been using for daily sustenance, polluted soil and environment, and consequently people and animals were also got affected.

The High court of Kerala banned endosulfan in Kerala in 2003. The Central Government withheld the sale and use in Kerala in 2005. Several local protests broke out in Kasaragod district demanding ban of endosulfan. This paved the way for bringing the issue to the state and national level. Later it has even reached international forums such as the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Review Committee of Stockholm Convention, which resulted in a global ban of endosulfan in 2011. The same year Honorable Supreme Court of India ordered a national ban on this toxic chemical. Meanwhile, the national human rights commission has ordered to pay compensation to the individuals who were harmed by endosulfan poisoning. The state Government of Kerala has announced a relief package to address the remedy for problem, has been providing pension, medical assistances, etc. However, many issues still remain unsolved, including identifying victims, their rehabilitation, disbursal of compensation, etc