Bhopal gas tragedy: Wounds continue to fester, demands linger after 35 years

Just a fortnight before the 35th anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster—one of the biggest industrial disasters in the world—Abdul Jabbar, 62, succumbed to health complications at a local private hospital.

Jabbar was not 'just' a survivor of the disaster. He was the most prominent face of the three-and-a-half-decade long struggle of lakhs of survivors and affected next generations who continue to wait for proper compensation, rehabilitation, health care and punishment to the accused of the man-made disaster that wiped off thousands from the face of the earth on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984.

Jabbar, a tragedy victim himself, was the convener of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Samiti (BGPMUS) and co-convener of Bhopal Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti (BGPSSS). He ensured that the struggle and the issue would not die over years, despite gross apathy from successive state and central governments. He did this without bothering about his rapidly failing health and severe personal economic constraints.

But on November 14 this year, he succumbed finally, having not got any substantial help from the gas relief hospitals of the state government or the 'state-of-the-art' multi-specialty Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC)—all of which he was instrumental in getting set up through medical petitions to the Supreme Court.

“Jabbar bhai's untimely death is a shocking example of the apathy and negligence of the governments. Everyone knew him and his long struggle and contribution to the cause. Yet there was no help even for him. So what can we say about the other survivors that he was representing for so long,” activist Sachin Jain laments.

Rasheeda Bee, president of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, another survivors' organisation said, “Till today, there is no evidence that the governments at the state and Central-levels have learnt any lessons from Jabbar bhai's suffering and untimely death.”

Jabbar's life and death is thus a shocking example of how the authorities have continued to pay little heed to the survivors of the mega tragedy that killed over 15,000 and maimed over 5 lakh Bhopal residents as deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide (pesticide) factory in the heart of the city 35 years ago.

It continues to affect thousands of second and third generation residents who are born to gas-affected parents and those consuming water contaminated by the toxic waste that still remains without remediation on the campus of and around the now abandoned factory site.

In this background, survivors' organisations held another round of demonstrations, rallies, candle light vigils and other activities to highlight their ongoing struggle and demand fulfilment of pending demands.

The main demands highlighted by various organisations, including the BGPSSS, BGMUS, Bhopal Group for Information and Action, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha and Children Against Dow Carbide, could be categorised into five major heads. They are as follows:

Compensation: Union Carbide/Dow Chemical (current owner of Union Carbide) must pay a minimum $8,000 (about Rs 5.73 lakhs) to each Bhopal survivor as additional compensation for personal injuries as claimed in India's Supreme Court. The Indian government must make Union Carbide/Dow Chemical pay compensation for health and environmental damage caused by contamination of soil and groundwater. There should be speedy Disposal of Curative Petition (Civil) Nos.345-347 of 2010, which is currently pending before the Supreme Court, for enhancement of compensation and for remediation of the contaminated site in and around the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal.

Criminal punishment: The US government must serve the summons from the Bhopal District Court upon Dow Chemical without delay. The Indian government must ensure that the criminal trial of accused Indian corporate executives is concluded within the next six months. Special Court should be set up for speedy trial and prosecution of all the accused, who are responsible for causing the Bhopal disaster.

Health care and research: The Indian government must ensure that standardised treatment protocols are developed for gas exposure-related chronic diseases. The Indian government must establish a population based registry for all deaths, births and congenital malformations in the gas exposed families. The Indian government must ensure that NIREH (National Institute for Research on Environmental Health) fulfil its commitment to the Bhopal survivors by generating scientific information on the long-term health damage by the gas disaster and most effective means of ameliorating them. The Madhya Pradesh government must ensure that free medical care is available to residents who drank contaminated groundwater for six months or more. There should be speedy implementation of the Supreme Court order of August 9, 2012, which had directed the Centre to provide the best medical care to the gas-victims.

Rehabilitation: The Indian and MP state governments must ensure that a monthly pension of Rs 3,000 is paid to all women widowed by the disaster and all those left without means to support themselves as a consequence of gas exposure. There should be overall proper rehabilitation of all needy gas-victims.

Clean up: The Indian government must ensure comprehensive scientific assessment of the depth, spread and nature of soil and groundwater contamination in and around the abandoned pesticide factory. Union Carbide/Dow Chemical must pay for the clean-up of the soil and groundwater up to international standards. The state government must cease and desist from covering up the contamination by building a memorial to the disaster on top of the contaminated lands. There should be provision of safe drinking water, free medical care and compensation to all victims of contaminated water and toxic waste.