Presentation and Discussion - Thinnai
Event: A presentation
on the background and issues revolving around the promotion of golden
rice, a genetically modified organism, in India.
Date: 21st March, 2004
Resource Person: Ram, Chief, SAMANVAYA
The concerned group of about 15 made it possible for the session to
be an interactive one with many questions answered and myths surrounding
golden rice cleared.
The background was
given by Ram preceding the starter discussion on biotechnology: India
has now been grappling with the problem of Vitamin A deficiency and
resulting blindness for the last 30 years or so. We have the largest
number of blind children in the world. However, it also has to be remembered
that there are reasons besides Vitamin A deficiency for blindness. Today
the application of biotechnology / genetic engineering, golden rice
is being promoted as the solution to this problem. This, even as reports
of the Government say that our home efforts have been largely successful
in reducing Vitamin A Deficiency and / or the occurrence of blindness
due to the same. Discussions were on:
- the problem (Vitamin A deficiency),
- the science and solution (biotechnology),
- who benefits / who loses and
- the new Godmen - scientists / the unquestioned legitimacy given to
them as the answer to everything.
Golden rice is coming up
for approval for it's commercialisation before the GEAC in 2005. But,
the doubts, questions, and unexplained issues are only piling up. Release
of any information regarding Golden Rice was stopped by mid 2001. No
information has been made available to the public about field trials
and tests if they have been held at all. Now all of a sudden, after
a silence of almost 2 years, it is to be promoted as a solution to a
supposed problem.
Rice is the staple diet
in India. And changes in the cultivation process will have far-reaching
consequences. The public has to a large extent neither any awareness
of this nor information. Ordinary consumers have to ask questions in
public forums and moreover question the supremacy of science / scientists
in defining development and progress.
A discussion on biotechnology
and genetic engineering ensued. Several issues, questions, opinions
and myths were brought out. There were discussions on the differences
between hybrid varieties and genetically engineered organisms as well
as the cultural issues involved with GMOs among others. Some opinions:
we are already consuming genetically modified foods, agriculture today
cannot happen without biotechnology, it is all too technical to understand
but American greed can be understood. A contrasting picture was raised
by Arul, Pasumaithayagam - as far as understanding Golden rice goes,
not even the elite and intellectuals do so fully, but the reach of the
science is so high that it impacts the ordinary guy on the street most,
and more often than not adversely.
A Brief Note on the
issue and Discussions
Biotechnology, a science which looks at problems at the genetic level,
is 40 years old. It has it's applications in many areas, but this THINNAI
sessions looked at agriculture and food. The jargon, myths, mystery
and media-hype surrounding the science is very high making it extremely
unfriendly to the people. Take the example of S.M. Krishna's statement
that all debate and discussions revolving around this issue and golden
rice should be restricted to the scientific community leaving no scope
for public understanding and participation. It is common knowledge that
the scientific community is being controlled by political forces and
led by foreign considerations. Then where are the people's interests
here?
A thorough look at the
scenario of Vitamin A deficiency in India (statistics, data, public
statements...), the solution of Golden Rice, and the sheer absurdity
of promoting it as a solution here. The group collectively arrived at
the conclusion that understanding golden rice is to understand it in
the larger perspective, since this is not the only such dangerous, patch
solution that is being / will be offered to the people. But does the
ordinary consumer and the farmer know of what is happening? Do we question
the validity of such solutions that are offered to us? What is the role
of science and scientists in our lives and society? The position that
religious entities occupied in the traditional systems of this society
has been given to the scientists today. What does this mean for the
progress and development of the country?
QUESTION IT:
- when a scientist gives numbers
- when a scientist gives a solution as for the problem of the poorest
man in the country
- when a scientist gives a solution by moving the patriotic and national spirit in you!