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The move of the Indian government to engage Psychiatrists to counsel the anti nuclear protestors at Koodankulam is very perturbing. Opposition to the nuclear power plants is not based on any delusion but on scientific evidence of effect of nuclear radiations on not only human health but all the flora and fauna around. This opposition is not just at Koodankulam but worldwide. There are ample of scientific studies to prove the detrimental effect of nuclear radiations including the one carried out by Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) on the “Effect on Health of People Living Around Jadugoda Uranium Mines” which shows statistically significant effect on the health of the people. Fears of the people around the Koodankulam plant are therefore justified and need to be addressed to by the government rather than doing witch hunting. People who think of safe environment, well being of masses, social justice, coexistence and not competing with nature, reducing wealth gap are sanest people. This whole exercise of the government is unethical and smells of some business deals

22 May 2012 - IDPD Statement in response to Government of India’s plan to engage Psychiatrists to counsel the anti nuclear protestors

The move of the Indian government to engage Psychiatrists to counsel the anti nuclear protestors at Koodankulam is very perturbing. Opposition to the nuclear power plants is not based on any delusion but on scientific evidence of effect of nuclear radiations on not only human health but all the flora and fauna around. This opposition is not just at Koodankulam but worldwide. There are ample of scientific studies to prove the detrimental effect of nuclear radiations including the one carried out by Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) on the “Effect on Health of People Living Around Jadugoda Uranium Mines” which shows statistically significant effect on the health of the people. Fears of the people around the Koodankulam plant are therefore justified and need to be addressed to by the government rather than doing witch hunting. People who think of safe environment, well being of masses, social justice, coexistence and not competing with nature, reducing wealth gap are sanest people. This whole exercise of the government is unethical and smells of some business deals.

No one can ever say with 100% authenticity that there can never be an accident in the nuclear power plant or any other industry so to say anywhere in the world. Who could imagine the disaster at Fukushima in Japan which is known for one of the best technological applications and disaster management? On the contrary the track record of disaster management in India is extremely dismal. We are till date unable to cope up with the Bhopal gas tragedy.

A team of doctors from International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) including IDPD is likely to visit Fukushima in August 2012 to take stock of the ground reality. However lot of studies has been done on the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. Based on information from the Belarus National Academy of Sciences, Greenpeace places the figure at 93,000 deaths as a fall out of this accident.

The Belarus National Academy of Sciences estimates 270,000 people in the region around the accident site will develop cancer as a result of Chernobyl radiation. Another report by the Center for Independent Environmental Assessment of the Russian Academy of Sciences found a dramatic increase in mortality since 1990—60,000 deaths in Russia and an estimated 140,000 deaths in Ukraine and Belarus—probably due to Chernobyl radiation.

The biggest challenge facing communities still coping with the fallout of Chernobyl is the psychological damage to 5 million people in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. "The psychological impact is now considered to be Chernobyl's biggest health consequence," according to Louisa Vinton, of the UNDP. "People have been led to think of themselves as victims over the years, and are therefore more apt to take a passive approach toward their future rather than developing a system of self-sufficiency.” It is high time therefore, the Indian government pays more attention to the renewable energy resources which are inexhaustible and non hazardous in our country. The Japanese have already put a stop to the nuclear power plants and so are many other countries.

News Item in The New Indian Express 19th May 2012

Centre to deal anti-nuke mind-set with NIMHANS

Veena Joshi Datta

The New Indian Express BANGALORE: Having exhausted all options to end opposition to the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant, the Centre now plans to get a peek into the protesters’ minds and remove any fears.

?For this, it has decided to engage a team of psychiatrists from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore. ?In the first week of May, a representative from the Central Government visited NIMHANS to discuss strategies and to chalk out a plan of action. ?The Central team wanted to evolve a method to engage with those involved in the Koodankulam agitation.

?Following this, NIMHANS has already started working on the project and has formed a team comprising six members to take up the task of counselling protestors. ?Some of these members are from the department of social psychiatry. ?A former director of National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) is expected to lead this project. ?The institute has already commenced the collection of primary data in this regard and is now gearing up to seek field reactions from villages in Tamil Nadu as the secondary research data for further formulation of multiple strategies to address the problem.

?Dr P Satishchandra, director, NIMHANS, told Express that this will be a long-term project, which is currently in its infancy. ?“We will submit a detailed report to the Central Government within a week and depending on the government’s response, further strategies will be planned for this project,” Dr Satishchandra added. ?NIMHANS hopes to work in tandem with self help groups, NGOs, local administration and other community level workers who can help people understand the importance of the nuclear power plant. ?The effort will be to allay apprehensions.

?For instance, the fishing community is apprehensive about safety following the Fukushima disaster in Japan. ?There was also a fear among villagers that once the reactor is set in motion, the condenser water released into the sea could affect marine life jeopardising fishermen’s livelihood. ?Besides, there was also a fear that mock exercises mean permanent eviction of residents. ?Considering these factors, the members have planned to chalk out various exercises at the grass-root level to convince protestors that the nuclear power plant is safe and essential for the country.