Bhopal Gas Tragedy survivors write to PM Modi to revive demand for adequate compensation

Senior Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: Representatives of five organizations of Bhopal gas tragedy survivors on Tuesday announced the revival of their 13-years long joint campaign for securing adequate compensation for all survivors.

At a press conference, the organizations released a copy of the letter they have recently sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers in this regard.

Thousands were killed and lakhs were rendered ill for life during and in aftermath of the biggest industrial disaster that struck Bhopal on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984.

Extremely toxic Methyl Iso-Cynate gas had spewed from the fertilizer plant of Union Carbide India Ltd (currently owned by Dow Chemical Ltd.) causing the massive loss of life and limb.

“We have written to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers urging them to follow through with the submissions made by the Attorney General last year in the Supreme Court regarding inadequate compensation to Bhopal survivors.  We have reminded them that the apex court has specifically directed the Government of India to make good the shortfall in compensation.” said Rashida Bee President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, a trade union of women survivors, said at the press conference.

According to Balkrishna Namdev, President of Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pensionbhogee Sangharsh Morcha, “The most glaring proof of Bhopal survivors being short changed is that according to the latest data from the Welfare Commissioner’s office, 90 % of the 13,133 Bhopal survivors who were diagnosed with cancers and kidney diseases had been originally assigned to the ‘temporary injury’ category and paid just Rs. 25, 000 as compensation.”

“Records from central and state government hospitals show that gas-exposed persons died at a rate 2.7 times more due to the COVID 19 Pandemic in comparison to non- exposed population in the same district. This increased vulnerability to the Pandemic is also significant proof that most Bhopal survivors suffered permanent and not temporary injury.” said Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action who has authored a scientific paper on this subject.

Nawab Khan, President of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha said, “In our letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers we have drawn their attention to the letter written by the then Chief Minister of the state to the then Prime Minister on December 8, 2011. In this letter, Shivraj Singh Chouhan had sought Rs. 5 lakhs as compensation for every person exposed to the poisonous gas of Union Carbide in Bhopal. If not the Bhopal survivors, maybe they will listen to Shivraj ji who is currently their colleague in the central cabinet.”

“It is indeed a pity that the Bhopal survivors have to fight for 13 long years for getting adequate compensation which is their legal and constitutional right. Union Carbide’s documents clearly state that exposure to Methyl Isocyanate causes residual injury despite prompt treatment. For a government to ignore this is being blind to both science and justice. We hope to change this through peaceful action” said Nousheen Khan of Children Against Dow Carbide.