The Plantation Corporation of Kerala Ltd (PCK) has been resorting to aerial spraying of the pesticide endosulfan for about 2 decades, 2 to 3 times an year, in 4696 ha of cashew plantation owned by it in Kasaragod district of Kerala for the control of tea-mosquito bug.  From 1979, there have been press reports on health abnormalities in the region adjoining the plantation. From 1998, there were isolated protests against the spraying of endosulfan. Protests gathered momentum after the latest spraying in Dec.2000 and the media began highlighting the problem.  The Government of Kerala received several  representations regarding the pollution caused by the spraying of endosulfan in the cashew plantations of PCK Ltd in Kasaragod district.  Consequently, the government appointed a Committee to undertake a detailed study and scientific analysis on the effects of endosulfan on human population and environmental pollution.