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LATHYRISM
A PREVENTABLE PARALYSIS

1983

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NUTRITION
INDIAN

COUNCIL

OF

MEDICAL RESEARCH

HYDERABAD - 500 007
INDIA

COMMUNITY HEALTH CELL
St. ivij'r'

Road, Bangalore-?'’'

LATHYWSIVI
A PREVENTABLE PARALYSIS

1983

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NUTRITION
INDIAN COUNCIL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH

HYDERABAD - 500 007

INDIA

First Printed

1964

Reprinted

1967

Reprinted

1974

Revised

1983

|CO

community health cell
4?|1. 'Hist Floor,- St. Marks Read,

BaflSalote - EC 3 C01.

CONTENTS
Page No.
PREFACE

vii

WHAT IS LATHYRISM
HISTORY OF LATHYRISM

1
3

In India
In the World

LATHYRISM-THE DISEASE

5
6

7

How the disease sets in

8

The stages of Lathyrism

9

Why Lathyrism still occurs

12
13
15

Diet and. the disease
The poison in the pulse

PREVENTION
General preventive measures

Immediate preventive measures

18
18
21

follow-up studies were contributed by Dr KA.V.R. Krishnamachari and Dr. V. Ramesh Bhat of this Institute.

The Laboratories have now gone a step further and simple
methods for the removal of the toxin, which can be usefully
employed by the housewife or commercially have been deve­
loped. The Institute's work was also instrumental; in studying
the variations in the toxin content of lathyrus grown in diffe­
rent regions and thus paved the way for a genetic approach
towards evolving low-toxin varieties. The Institute has also
developed a simple method of detection of lathyrus in the
presence of commonly used pulses in the context of prevalence
of adulteration of dais with lathyrus
This brochure has been prepared by the Extension and
Training Division of the Nutrition Research Laboratories, on
the basis of the results obtained through investigations
carried out in the Field Unit at Rewa and in the National
Institute of Nutrition.

In this brochure, an attempt has been made to present
in simple language, intelligible to the general public, the
basic facts regarding the disease. Prevention and control
of this disease must eventually come through the promotion
of a wide awareness of the nature of the problem and the
means of preventing it among the general public. It is hoped
that this brochure will help stimulate such interest and thus
contribute to the amelioration of a disease which has conti­
nued to take a heavy toll for over two centuries.

DIRECTOR

What is Lathyrism
Lathyrism is a nervous disease that cripples man. It has
been known to exist in India for nearly two hundred years and
is still not eradicated Unfortunately, it affects the youth
of the community, especially young men between the
ages’of 15 and 45 years. The disease does not kill but is
incurable and makes tne victims cripples for life. Surveys
have shown that there are over 32,000 victims of the disease
in Rewa and Satna districts in Madhya Pradesh alone. Recur­
rent outbreaks of the disease have also been reported from

Fig. 1.

Lathyrus sativus

several pockets in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Bihar and
Punjab.
The disease is caused by eating large amounts of the pulse
Lathyrus sativus (Khesari dal). This scourge, causing loss
in productivity of hosts of young men in the community, can
be easily prevented by not eating Lathyrus sativus or reduc­
ing its intake to a minimum.
Lathyrus sativus is extensively cultivated in Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bengal,
Maharashtra, Mysore and Andhra Pradesh. It is known by
different local names such as Matra, Teora, Batra, Gharas,
Khesari, Lang, Lakh, Lakhori, Latri Dal or Lankalu. Throughout
the country, it is known by the common name 'Khesari Dal'.
The plant is a legume with needle-like elongated leaves and
pink-purple flowers. The pods contain seeds triangular in
shape. Some varieties are smaller in size and pale grey in
colour, while others are large, dark grey and mottled. The
dehusked seeds resemble Bengal gram or Tur daL
Lathyrus sativus is a rabi (winter) crop sown in Octo­
ber-November and harvested in late February early March.
It grows abundantly in dark loamy or sandy-loam soils. Its
cultivation does not need any irrigation facilities. It is a
drought resistant and hardy crop and hence thrives even under
adverse conditions when other crops like wheat fail
Hence
during periods of famine and scarcity, it is regarded as a life­
saving crop. The folk verse indicates the importance of this
famine-crop :

"Matra ki roti, Matra ki dal,
Matra ki pati, Rakhan Har."
which means—

"Matra as bread and matra as dal
Matra indeed is the guardian of all

2

History of Lathyrism in India
The first graphic description of the disease and its asso­
ciation with the consumption of Lathyrus pulse has been
given in 1384 by General Sleeman, in his book 'Rambles and
recolletcions of an Indian official.'
■'In 1829 and 1831 the spring crops in Saugor and surro­
unding villages were destroyed by hailstorms, rains and
blight. During these years the 'Teori' which normally is left
carelessly to grow among the wheat and other grains, re­
mained uninjured and thrived with great luxuriance. In 1831,
a rich crop of it was reaped and the villagers subsisted upon
its grain during that and the following years, giving the stalks
and leaves only to their cattle
In 1834, the sad effects of
this food began to manifest themselves. The younger part
of the population, from the age of thirty downwards, began
to be deprived of the use of their limbs below the waist by
paralytic strokes. About half the youth of this village, of
both sexes, became affected during the year 1833-34 and
many of them have lost the use of their lower limbs
entirely and are unable to move. The youth of surround­
ing villages in which the 'Teori' formed the chief article of
diet during the years 1831-32, have suffered to an equal
degree. They described the attack as coming on suddenly,
often while the person was asleep and without any warning
symptoms whatever, and stated that a greater portion of young
men were attacked than of the young women.
IXJo person
once attaked had been found to recover the use of limbs
affected”.

From 1904 onwards the disease occurred in epidemic
form in several provinces:
Central Provinces-1904, 1922, 1927, 1945, and 1951-

Gilgit Agency in Kashmir-1926 and 1927.
United Provinces-1930
3

Punjab-1939
Bhopal-1945 and 1947

Bihar-1 944 and 1959
Rewa State-1922, 1927 and 1959
West Bengal-1960.

Sporadic outbreaks of Lathyrism have been reported as
recently as 1966 from Rewa, Satna and Allahabad districts.

The following districts have been Known to have had
out-breaks of Lathyrism :
Bihar

Patna, Monghyr, Darbhanga.

Madhya Pradesh:

Saugor, Bhopal, Hoshangabad, Narasinghpur, Jabalpur, Damoh, Bilaspur,
Khandwa, Raipur, Chindwara, Seoni,
Rewa, Satna, Panna, Tikamgarh, Durg,
Rajnandgoan.

Orissa

:

Orissa

Punjab

:

Norowal

Uttar Pradesh

:

Allahabad, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Bareilly
Pilibhit, Lakhimpur, Bahraich, Hardoi,
Rampur, Gorakhpur, Azamgarh, Ballia,
Sitapur, Unnao, Badaun, Basti.

West Bengal

:
:

Maharashtra

Murshidabad.

Bhandara

4

LATHYRISM IN INDIA

5

LATHYRISM

THE

IN

WORLD

Wherever esten //> &x&gss
LATHVRUS SATIVUS
©3SEASE

Fig

3

Lathyrism—The Disease
The Warning Sign
The disease may set in, in many ways. Usually,a few days
prior to onset of actual paralysis, the individual experiences a
sudden agonising pain in the calf muscles at night, after he
has been resting and the legs are stretched.

The pain is accompanied by a spasmodic contraction of
the calf muscles into the shape of a ball or lump, known locally
as 'Lodakas'. A similar type of contraction occurs sometimes
in the muscles at the back of the thighs. Along with the spasm
there is a downward clenching of the toes and feet. The
muscles remain in this contracted state for about 10 to 15
minutes, until the spasm passes off either with massage or by
itself.
A week or two later, some of the individuals so affected
develop the disease, while some others do not Some of the
latter remain in the 'Latent Stage' of the disease. They do
not have the typical signs of physical disability There is only
a slight bending of the knees and awkwardness and difficulty
on running or walking downhill

In other individuals, the spasm is infrequently repeated
It ultimately stops after several months only when the patient
develops the full fledged conditionLodakas (muscle spasm) is sometimes of a mild nature;
nevertheless it heralds the onset of the disease
It is hence
a sign of great public health importance to be used in any
preventive programme for the following reason.

If the individual stops eating Lathyrus sativus after the
first muscle spasm the disease is arrested and he does not
develop Lathyrism in its full form

7

How the Disease Sets in
While Loaakas (muscle spasm) is the earliest indication
of the disease, the onset may be of three types.

Acute onset
In more
disease starts this way-

than

half the

subjects the

A young map goes to woJk. It rains and he takes shelter
under a tree. When the rain stops, he resumes work. While
work, he falls and finds himself unable to stretch his legs There
is a bending at the knee, joints and a heaviness in the limbs
and it is with increasing difficulty that he walk:, to his hut.
There may also be severe or mild pain round the knee and
ankle joints and in the back and thighs This stiffness of the
muscles goes on increasing till the individual is unable to
walk It may take from ten days to a month for him to
improve. After this period of complete disability, the para­
lysis gradually sets in. Women generally do not have an
acute onset
Sub-acute-onset:—This usually occurs about 15 days
after Lodakas (Tnuscle spasm). The attack is brought on by
a sudden physical effort such as jumping across a brook,
chasing cattle or getting out of bed after sleep. The physical
effort is arrested and patient falls down
He rises and conti­
nues to walk but in a very short time he finds he cannot
walk freely or normally. There is usually no pain, yet in a
few hours the patient feels a stiffness and heaviness in his
lower limbs. This stiffness of the muscles goes on increas­
ing slowly. Owing to this stiffness, the walk becomes jerky
and increasingly awkward. He is never bed-ridden and does
his usual work. It may take from a month to a year before
he progresses into any of the stages of the disease. Women
are more prone to have a sub-acute onset.

8

Insidious-onset:—In this type of onset, the earliest
symptoms such as muscle spasm and pain are not present.
Moreover the pain, if any, is just mild and dull. This dull
aching in the limbs, knee and ankle joints may continue for
2 to 3 months. At the same time, there is an increasing
stiffness and heaviness in the limbs and a slow developing
awkwardness of gait. Women do not progress further but in
men this may increase, till in about 6 months time the patient
may need one or two sticks to enable him to walk. Some of
these cases even go into the final stage of complete paralysis.

The Stages of Lathyrism
First stage : The largest number of victims, including
most female subjects, are found in this stage of the disease.
It is characterised by a typical manner of walking with short
steps and jerky movements, which is an important sign for
diagnosis.

Owing to varying degrees of stiffness in the muscles of
the lower limbs, the heels do not completely rest on the ground
while walking, and leave the ground earlier than the toes of
the preceding step. Thus the patient walks on toes, with
knees slightly bent and ankles extended, resulting in jerky
movements and a kind of scissors or crossed gait (crossing of
the legs on walking). In orderto correct the disturbed balance,
the waist is sometimes tilted and the head sways from side to
side.
At this stage, the patient manages to walk without the
aid of a stick. This, therefore, may be called the Non-Stick
Stage.
The patient may remain in this condition for the rest of
his life. Or, he may pass on to the next stage.

9

FIG

4

Victims of Lathyrism showing the different Stages

(Centre) Non-stick stage
(Extremejight and left)
One stick stage.

<i Two stick stage f>

Crawler stage

10

Second stage : It may take a Non-stick patient anywhere
from a month to even 10 years to advance to this stage. On
the other hand, a patient may go into the second stage directly
after the onset.

Here all the signs of the first stage are present to a greater
degree. The muscular stiffness has increased. There is ap­
preciable bending at knee-joints and raising of heels while
walking. This makes it necessary to perform all walking by
tilting the pelvis to such a degree that a stick is necessary to
maintain balance. This is, therefore, sometimes referred to as
the One Stick Stage.

Third stage : It is not very common for an individual to
go into this stage directly after the Onset. The number of
patients in this stage are also less than in any of the previous
stages.
Muscular stiffness is marked and the walking is slow and
clumsy owing to considerable bending at knee-joints and
crossed gait. The muscular rigidity is so great that the patient
needs two sticks for support and there is marked tilting of the
pelvis sideways to maintain balance. This is sometimes called
the Two Stick Stage.

Final stage : A patient may pass through more than one
of the previous stages to reach this extreme stage of the dis­
ease. By this time the patient is unable to walk upright on
account of considerable bending of the knees and extreme
stiffness of the lower limbs. Ultimately the legs give way at
the knee-joints. The patient is then reduced to crawling or
shuffling along by taking his weight on his hands.

TY H£ V-TH C -.Lt
<7,1. .rust Hcor, St Wtl;S Read.

Bancialo;e - ECU < 01.

Why Lathyrism Still Occurs
Seventy five percent of the victims of Lathyrism are land­
less labourers often indebted to the landlord. These 'Laguas'
or'Harwahas'are bound to serve the master till the loan is
cleared. In terms of money, the per capita income mav be as
low as 40 paise per day. They are supposed to receive
money wages but are generally paid for their labour in the
form of foodgrains.

The owner of the land grows Lathyrus sativus. It
grows easily, needs little irrigation or manuring and yields
a luxurious crop.
Moreover his cattle can eat the stem and
leaves
It is the cheapest pulse in the market and won't fetch him
much if he sells. He seldom eats it himself, so he mixes
itwith varying amounts of wheat, barley, or Bengal gram
(if he has any) and hands out this 'Birri* to his labourers as
wages. In fact, he very often sifts the grain so that he sieves
the wheat out and gives the other grains to his men.

When there is a famine or drought, he needs the little
wheat, barley or gram grown, for his own use. So he gives
his men only Lathyrus sativus.
The labourer prepares rotis (chapathis) out of the Lathy­
rus flour. It is sweet and tasty and heavier than wheat or
Bengal gram. So he gets into the habit of liking it and eating
it. In fact, many a labourer feels more satisfied when he is
given Lathyrus sativus, in preference to other cereals.
A few labourers, who realize the possible harmful effects,
do not want to accept it. But there is no choice. Lathyrus
sativus cannot be exchanged or sold for any other grain or

12

pulse because it fetches less.
becoming disabled for life,

So they must eat it and risk

Those who are not disabled continue working and eating
Lathyrus sativus for life. The others become a burden on
family and society. Many migrate to nearby towns as
beggars only to create further social problems.

Can this vicious circle be broken somewhere ?

Diet and the Disease
The disease occurs only when the pulse is eaten in
relatively larger quantities and other food substances are
scarcer. On the other hand, a small amount may be eaten
with no ill-effects. Diet surveys show that the affected
families ate more than four times the amount tof Lathyrus
sativus as compared to the unaffected families. Moreover
as the income rose and the diet improved, the incidence of
Lathyrism decreased. In fact the disease is almost never
found among the land-owning groups and even among the
skilled labourers and petty shop-keepers whose income is
subsidised by their professional trades. The disease is most
prevalent among unskilled labour who are more or less
attached to the land owners and live at their mercy.

Lathyrus pulse is harvested in the month of March and
the poor landless labourers start eating it right away and
continue eating it up to August or September. Rotis are
prepared from the whole Lathyrus flour or a mixture predomi­
nantly of Lathyrus flour. The rotis are generally eaten with
some arhar dal and perhaps white radish (muli) or other
vegetables when available. Sometimes, the whole or crushed
pulse is boiled in water and eaten as a porridge with the
addition of salt and condiments. Green vegetables, milk,
meat or eggs are rarely consumed.

13

Fig.

5

The disease appears from June onwards and the largest
number of cases occur in the month of July. These are the
months when the poor are left with Lathyrus sativus as their
sole food. Once the kharif crop is harvested in the months
of October-November, the number of cases decrease

14

Surveys have shown that there are over 32,000 Lathy­
rism patients in the Districts of Rewa and Satna in Madhya
Pradesh alone. Almost every village in these districts has
had an experience of the disease at some time or the otherIn some villages outbreaks of Lathyrism are reported to occur
every third year. There are several families in these areas
where every male in the family is affected, leaving only a few
adult females. A study of 200 cases showed that 41 have
more than one patient in the family while the other families
have a patient each- It has been estimated that in Rewa and
Satna Districts there are almost 3 lame people for every
hundred persons.
As these are mostly young and active
men, every lame person means an economic loss and a social
responsibility.

The Poison in the Pulse
A nervous excitation called 'thouros' has been associated
with Lathyrus sativus since the days of Ancient Greece.
Now, scientific studies have shown that Lathyvus sativus
contains a harmful substance which may be called a 'Toxin'.

The toxin in Lathyrus sativus has been isolated by an
intricate method. The harmful nature of this toxin is revealed
by injecting small amounts of it into an animal such as the
chick, duckling, pigeon or monkey.
Within an hour of the injection, the chick gets a paralysis
of the legs. At the same time, its neck and head are bent
backwards in a spasm. The bird remains so for some hours.
If a large amount of the toxin is injected, the bird dies.

In areas where Lathyrism is rife, two third, and more of
the daily diet is composed of Lathyrus sativus in the form of
rotis. When an individual eats such large amounts of the
pulse for long periods, the toxin affects the nervous system

15

This finally causes the muscle spasm and leads on to perma­
nent paralysis.

Fig.

6

Two Chicks

It has been found that harmful effects can be produced in
2 to 4 months time by eating a diet of which 40 per cent or
more is made up of Lathyrus sativus.

Therefore, to avoid the toxic effect on the system,
Lathyrus sativus should never form more than a quarter
of the total amount of cereals and pulses eaten per day.

16

EXISTING MEAL PATTERN

Matra (Lathyrus sativus) Roti
Arhar Dal

Muli (White radish)

Fig.

17

7

IMPROVED MEAL PATTERN

Birri or Jao Matra Roti

(3/4 wheat or barley 1/4 Bengal gram dal & Lathyrus Sativus)
Arhar Dal

Mali (White radish)
Green Leafy vegetable (or the leafy top of Muli cooked)
Groundnuts or Milk

Fig. 7 (b)
A practical though not ideal meal pattern

PREVENTION
1.

General Preventive Measures

The most important approach towards the prevention of
the disease would be an intensive education programme to
18

make the people aware of the cause of the disease. Unless
officials at every level are informed and their interest stimula­
ted, specific preventive measures will have only limited
success.

Such an intensive programme may be carried out through
group talks and discussions with village leaders, labour and
women's groups, using films and informative leaflets and
posters. The initial compaign may be followed by specific
information and advice at Health Centres and during home
-visits.
A folk verse, which shows that the local people already
associate the pulse with the disease, can be given wide pub­
licity in the programme.

"Kariat matra piar pisan
Pisan khai se gor nasan.
Hale chandui matke kool,
Ja dekho matre ki sooT.
Translated :

The black pea with its yellow flour
From eating it comes trouble in legs;
Flapping top not and swaying hips.
Behold the ill-effects of eating Matra

The following five factors can be stressed in the the Educa­
tion Programme:

a) The cause of the disease and the danger of eating large
quantities of Lathyrus pulse.

b) The fact that Lathyrus pulse can safely form not more
than a quarter of the total amount of cereals and pulses eaten
per day.
c) Inherent danger of paying wages in terms of Lathyrus
sativus-

19

POISONOUS KHESARl DAL CAN BE RENDERED SAFE
AND USED AS FOLLOWS

20

d) Recognition of early symptoms like muscle spasm and
the immediate withdrawal of the pulse from the diet. This
also applies to persons in the early stages of the disease.
e) The need for growing alternative crops in place of
Lathyrus sativus.

Strict measures against the payment of wages in terms of
Lathyrus sativus must be enforced.
A widespread Agricultural Extension Service to .each the
farmers how and what alternative crops to grow, must form
an integral of the programme. Practical measures to act as
incentives for the production of alternative crops may be
Revenue remissions to those who stop growing Lathyrus
sativus and increased Tax on Lathyrus producing landsFarmers must be encouraged to institute the practice of
sharing the crops to facilitate the intake of a mixture of
cereals and pulses.

The Nutrition Programmes, which are currently in opera­
tion in some States, have contributed significantly to the
improvement of the nutrition of rural communities
The
extension of such Nutrition Programme to areas where Lathy
rism is endemic should be seriously considered.

2.

Immediate Preventive Measures

Notwithstanding what is stated above, Lathyrus cultiva­
tion has come to stay as a life-saving crop in may parts of the
country, The pulse contains 28 per cent protein of fairly
good qu ility. If only the toxins, present in the seeds, could
be removed by simple methods, the seeds could be used by
one and all without ill effects The National Institute of
Nutrition at Hyderabad have carried out detqijed J-nve^tfgat L

Bcad(

COMMON!.J
2147/.. V"6’

o.

-

tions on this problem and two major approaches have
been guiding such research, viz. the processing approach
and the genetic approach to render the seeds harmless for
consumption.

(a)

Processing methods to remove the toxin

(i) Steeping process: This method is quite simple
and can be practised in every household. A large volume of
water (4 times the quantity of seeds) is first brought to boil
in a big vessel. When the water is just boiling, fire is
removed and the seeds are poured into the hot water and
left over for about two hours. After such steeping, thesteepwater is drained off completely. The seeds are washed once
with a fresh lot of cold water and this water is also drained
off The seeds are now sun-dried. Eighty to ninty per cent
of the toxin is removed by this method. The stepwise treat­
ment is indicated in the series of pictures (Fig 8). The flour
prepared from the processed seeds lends itself to making
chapathis in the same way as the unprocessed pulse.
(ii) Parboiling process ': This process is almost similar to
parboiling paddy for preparation of parboiled rice. This method
is suitable for processing of L. sativus seeds on a commercial
scale and can be carried out in rice mills possessing equip­
ment for parboiling. Here, the seeds are first soaked in cold
water for 12 hours in masonry tanks The water is drained off
and wet seeds are charged in to a steaming kettle (to hold
about 6 bags each) and steamed for 20 to 30 minutes. Steam
is cut off and the hot seeds are again charged in the masonry
tanks filled with cold water and and allowed to soak for about
an hour. Steaming and subsequent soaking leach out the
toxin to the extent of 80 to 90 per cent. The soak-water is
drained off and the seeds are then sun dried on the ground in
'drying pials'.

(b>

Genetic approach

About 600 samples of L. sativus seeds from several
villages from seven or eight districts of Madhya Pradesh have

22

been screened for the concentration of the toxin present in
the seeds. These screening trials have revealed that the toxin
content varied from 0 1 to 2.5 per cent- This opens up the
possibility of picking out varieties lowest in toxin content and
is being carefully pursued If these trials succeed, a low-toxin
variety or a variety "free of toxin" may be used for propagating
and introduced for a large-scale cultivation in areas where
Lathyrus cultivation is already in vogue. Research at the
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi, has
evolved a low-toxin variety (0.2% toxin called, Pusa-24.
Efforts are being mace to multiply and popularise such lowtoxins varieties in the lathyrus growing belts.
Further work at the Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Viswa
Vidyalaya (Agricultural University) showed that varieties of
lathyrus—LSDI, LSDG, RPL 31, RPL 53 and Pusa-29 per­
formed well utera conditions (6-8 Q/h.a.) and RL 211, RL 31,
RL 298, RL 18, RPLK 29 did well under uplands (8-11 Q/h.a.)The varieties LSD6 and pusa-24 besides being high yieiders
are low in toxin with 9.2 to 0.3% level. Breeders will have to
evolve such varieties of low toxin with distinct characteristics
of flower, seed coat and grain type for easy identification by
farmers. There should be a regular seed breeding programme
for continuous supply of low toxin varities to the farmers,
every year.

Method of detection:

The prevalence of adulteration of common pulses such as
turdal, chana dal or its flour (basan) with lathyrus has called
for a simple, rapid, specific and sensitive method for the
detection of such adulteration. The Institute has developed
such a simple method which can be carried out in any Public
Health Laboratory.
Legislative feasibilities :
"The sale, possession for sale, offer for sale and exposure
for sale of lathyrus or the use of lathyrus as an ingredient in
the preparation of any article intended for sale" — has been

23

banned in most of the States of Indian Union, following
certain provisions made in the Prevention of Food Adultera­
tion Act (PFA Act). Madhya Pradesh has not passed the
relevant legislations so far to make the sale of lathyrus an
offence. The cultivation of lathyrus has so far not been
banned. Under the existing situation, it would be impractica­
ble implement a total ban on the cultivation of lathyrus.
However, as a first step, a levy on the cultivation of lathyrus
can be considered as a disincentive to the cultivation of
lathyrus
In the light of the development of the detoxification
process, the rule under PFA Act may perhaps need modifica­
tion, in the event of an open sale of detoxified needs in other
states. The PFA Act could state that toxic varieties of seeds
should not be used for sale in any form for human con­
sumption.

Complete procurement by state organisations and sending
the seeds for detoxification would be an ideal solution.
However, this may not be practicable at this stage As a
beginning, a levy can be procured by the State Trading
Corporation or State Marketing Federation so that the seeds
should be detoxified and then seld through appropriate
channels
A team of scientists from the Institute has been regularly
carrying out the follow-up in the endemic districts, specially
in Rewa, Satna and Raipur during 1979, 1980 and 1982
These follow-up studies have revealed that after the severe
drought in 1974, there have been nractically no fresh cases of
disease in the endemic districts. The marked decline in fresh
incidence of the disease has been confirmed through different
channels such as monitoring by N.I.N. team, reports from
agricultural university (JNKVV), PHC reports, agricultural
departments etc. On the basis of the monitoring activities,
the NIN team has recommended general and specific appro­
aches in regard to the social-management of the problems.

24

General :

1. For Social management of lathyrism, a multi-sectoral
approach with proper coordination among agriculture, rural
development and health sector besides cottage industries,
cooperative and banking institutions are necessary.

2. The health sector through its PHC and sub-centres
must closely monitor the rural community for any fresh cases
of the disease, in the endemic districts.
Agricultural Sector :

1
Encouraging a change in the agricultural pattern with
a definite shift towards the cultivation of wheat, barley, bengalgram and lentils than lathyrus.
2 Encouraging the cultivation of oil seeds
linseed, safflower, mustard and soyabean.

such as

3. Emphasis on horticultural crops for the regionspecially mangoes, ber which appear to have good scope.

4. Introduction of new crops such as triticale and castor
may be explored.
5. ''Water-shed” approach for water conservation­
popularisation of modern dry-land farming methods as sug­
gested by All India Coordinated project on Dryland Farming
of ICAR and ICRISAT-

6 A package of practices including supply of quality
seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, spraying units with a net work
of extension services through cooperatives.
7. Agricultural Research and Extension services through
local agricultural colleges at Rewa and Raipur as also through
Kutiliya Farming Centre and a similar Farm at Raipur.
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8 Speedy implementation of the major and minor irriga­
tion projects including Banasagar Project — may provide the
shift in the agricultural pattern in the area-

Rural Development Sector
1- Encouraging developmental activities, specially dur­
ing drought conditions, through NREP through the aid of
“Food for Work" programme This measure will reduce the
consumption of lathyrus, specially the landless labourers2- During the drought seasons, the commercial markets
may be supplied liberally with wheat, rice and chana through
effective Public Distribution System.

3. Special efforts to be made to generate additional in­
come by encouraging home-made industries through agencies
as Khadi and Village Industries Commission and State Indus­
tries Department.

4. Organised collection of minor oil seeds such as mango
kernels and such other measures to provide additional income
and employment.
Monitoring Price Structure of Marketing

1. During the period 1960-1970, lathyrus was cheaper
than cereals. But in recent years, cost of lathyrus has increa­
sed considerably compared to cereals- (Wheat Rs. 1.70 per
kg as against Rs. 2. 70 per kg for lathyrus). The price struc­
ture of common dais, has also increased considerbly-

2. It is necessary to monitor the consumption of lathyrus
seeds in the rural areas, specially the landless labourers. It
has been observed that cossumption of lathyrus as a staple in
rural areas has declined considerably over the years.

3. Marketing trends need to be closely watched specially
in regard to offtake and utilisation of pulses, including lathyrus.
Due to shortage of common pulses, there could be possibility
of the use of lathyrus for adulteration of pulses.
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