Over 1,200 individuals gathered at the JB Auditorium, Ahmedabad Management Association for the third round of the seven consultations, proposed by Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests. People came from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat to voice their concerns on the much debated genetically modified food crop – Bt brinjal.

In the first session, out of 28 farmers who got to speak, 18 rejected Bt brinjal. In the second session, where scientists expressed their views and feedback, an overwhelming 13 scientists out of 15 scientists who spoke, took a stand against the entry of Bt Brinjal.

The minister spoke to an audience of over 500 stakeholders inside the auditorium while another 700 stood outside, waiting to be heard.

The reactions at this round were similar to the ones seen in the earlier consultations. Stakeholders at the Ahmedabad consultations urged the Minister of Environment and Forests to stop Bt Brinjal. Consumer representatives, youth, women, farmers, NGOs, scientists and academicians brandished banners and placards as they waited outside the auditorium.

‘Let me choose what I eat’, ‘We are no lab rats’, ‘GM food an attack on the environment’ were some of the messages given to the Minister as he walked into the consultation. A young student from Ahmedabad also presented Jairam Ramesh with a varied variety of non-Bt brinjal reminding him that the future of India lies in his hands.

Within minutes of the Minister walking into the room, he suggested that Ahmedabad was important because Bt Cotton was successful here. The farmers and the scientists were equivocal in their opposition to the Bt Brinjal. Some even suggested that the seed manufacturers and the GEAC members should be made to eat Bt Brinjals for two years before it was introduced to the general public.

In turn, Jairam Ramesh assured that the ministry was in no hurry to come to a conclusion, and would not take a decision in a closed room.’

These three consultations seem to have set the mood for the remaining ones. As we move ahead, we hope to hear a lot more NOs to Bt Brinjal.

Team Ahmedabad