Protest, allegation and demands for adequate compensation and facilities to survivors marked the 36th anniversary of Bhopal gas tragedy, which had left a deep scar on the state’s capital in first week of December 1984

Giving went to ire, gas victims not only burnt the effigy of Dow Chemicals and DUpont at Union Carbide plant site on Thursday but they also formed a human chain from DIG Bunglow to UCC Plant site as mark of protest.

The gas victims said that the effect of the covid-19 pandemic of the survivors in Bhopal and on people exposed to industrial pollution everywhere in the world has once again highlighted the urgent need for reigning in the chemical corporations.

They alleged that judicial institutions in India and USA have failed miserably in the last 36 years to make Union Carbide and Dow chemical obey the laws of the land. As injustice and sufferings continue in Bhopal corporations are encouraged to continue committing crimes against humanity and the global environment, gas victims alleged.

They condemned the continued evasion of legal liabilities by Dow Chemicals, USA for the ongoing damage to the health of the survivors and pollution of the local soil and groundwater.

The organizations working for the cause of gas victims denounced the state and central government for failing to make the Union Carbide corporation (UCC) pay adequate compensation and denying the rights of the survivors to medical care and social support.

“Dow Chemical’s market share that was down to 2.5 percent in 2005 has staidly risen to over 22 percent in the Indian market. For sure, the Prime Minister’s cosiness with Dow has got something to do with this. Meanwhile, the monthly pension Rs 1000 for roughly 5000 women widowed by the disaster has been stopped since last December.” Said Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal gas Peeditmahila Stationary karmachari Sangh.

Alleging downplay of death toll of the gas survivors due to COVID-19 by the Madhya Pradesh Government, Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal group for Information & Action, said “We Dare the government official to city one instance in the last 36 years when we have stated something without factual and scientific basis”.

“This is nothing new; officials have been downplaying the figures of death and extent of health damage caused by Union Carbide and Dow ever since the morning of the disaster. The official figure of the deaths is still five times lower than the actual number and over 90 per cent of those exposed to Union Carbide’s gases have been categorized as needing just one visit to the hospital.”

According to a survey done by a leading local newspaper, most of the hospitals established for the exclusive treatment of the gas victims lack basic facilities. The survey findings say tht hospitals lack specialists, technicians and even medicines. Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre was established to render expert and elaborate treatment to gas victims gives deserted look. Once it was having sixteen consultants faculty. Now it lacks most of them. Similar is the condition of several clinics established in several localities of the city.

“Excessive casualties among gas victims due to coronavirus infection in ratio to their proportion in the entire population of Bhopal has led to a fresh debate whether compensation paid to over 5,22,000 gas victims for temporary/minor injuries was at all justified when they have suffered permanent/long term damage to their body.

NGOs working among the gas victims, supported by figures of death due to coronavirus in Bhopal claim that more than 56% of over 500 people died due to coronavirus in Bhopal till October 15, are gas victims. While gas victims only constitute 17% of the city population.

They also referred to “National Library of Medicine” a US journal which in the disease section while dealing with long-term effects of the exposure to methyl isocyanate (NICC) says it may lead to hyperglycemia (diabetes), Umeria (kidney disease), pulmonary fibrosis and lung disease. They said the figures of gas relief hospitals on gas victims regularly coming to hospitals for treatment also shows that the number has only increased over the years, clearly showing that the injuries they suffered were of permanent nature and not temporary ones like coughing or breathing problem due to exposure of MIC for a day or two or some ailment lasting for a week or a month.

Three important events marked the 36th anniversary. One was the absence of Abdul Jabbar. It was During November 2019 that Abdul Jabar, perhaps the best known activist among the Bhopal Gas victims, was seriously ill and the gas disaster anniversary was approaching. He knew his condition was bad and he may not be discharged from the hospital soon. Each time he come across someone he knew well, Jabbar would say: “I am in Hospital. Gas tragedy anniversary is approaching. How do we prepare for the gas anniversary?”

Unfortunately, the activist passed away on November 15, 2019 leaving thousands of gas victims in the midst of their fight for justice. The gas victim’s movement for proper medical care, economic, environment and social rehabilitation being impacted by his absence.

Another event related to to the resumption of pension for the widows of gas victims. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday that the government will resume disbursement of Rs 1000 monthly pension to widows of gas victims.

“This regular pension being given to ‘Kalyani sisters’ which was discontinued in the year 2019 will be resumed, he said.

Chouhan said that the capital should also have a special memorial for gas tragedy- which will be constructed soon and named ‘Prakash Stambh Smarak’.

The chief minister was addressing the all religions prayer meeting held on the 36 anniversary of Bhopal gas Tragedy at Barkatullah Bhawan in Bhopal. The chief minister also offered flowers on the symbolic portrait of the victims of Bhopal gas Tragedy. Chouhan said that the gas tragedy victims have been exposed to the serious health challenges. They are being provided complete treatment facilities on priority basis. In view of corona virus pandemic, special attention is being paid to the treatment of such patients. Not only this, citizens of old and new Bhopal, are also getting clean Narmada water. Garbage disposal arrangements related to gas tragedy have been made. Necessary steps will be taken to further strength then them.

Just on the eve of the 36th anniversary, gas victims received support from British Parliament. an Indian-origin MP, Navendu Mishra has tabled a motion in the UK parliament on the 36th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy calling on those responsible for the world’s biggest disaster to be brought to justice so that the victims and their families received closure. (IPA Service)