Bhopal gas tragedy survivors observe anniversary

It has been three decades and the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy, world’s worst industrial catastrophe, are still struggling to come to terms with the maimed life they are forced to live.
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the disaster children born to women survivors of the gas tragedy with congenital disabilities held a candlelight vigil to remember those who perished in the disaster.
They also staged a play highlighting the plight and pain of those affected by the gas disaster. Children with different types of congenital disabilities like cerebral palsy, down syndrome, muscular dystrophy, impaired hearing took part in the candlelight vigil and the play.
The Chingari Trust, an organization looking after the survivors, had organized an exhibition highlighting their activities and the plight of the survivors.
The Union Carbide pesticide manufacturing factory had spewed 40 metric tons of poisonous Methyl Iso-cyanate gas on the night of Dec. 2-3, 1984 killing 3,000 people instantly. Some 25,000 died over the years. Over half a million are still suffering from the side effects of the poisonous gas and several thousands have been maimed for life.
According to Ms Rashida Bee & Ms Champa Devi Shukla, Co-Founders and Managing Trustees, the Chingari Trust has worked for seven years for the rehabilitation of 2nd and 3rd generation children born to parents and grandparents affected by the 1984 gas tragedy and the ongoing water contamination. The Trust has undertaken care of the children born with congenital disorders such as deformed body, cut lips, under developed or without fingers and with mental retardation.
Meanwhile, representatives of five organizations working for the welfare of the survivors have presented their list of demands.
Addressing a press conference on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Union Carbide disaster held the two US corporations, Union Carbide and Dow Chemical, primarily responsible for the ongoing disasters in Bhopal. They demanded that Union Carbide and Dow Chemical answer criminal charges and obey Bhopal court’s summons, pay additional compensation, and arrange for clean up of the toxic contamination in Bhopal.
The organizations demanded that the US government acknowledge and express regret for financing the hazardously designed Union Carbide plant in Bhopal through the EXIM bank. They demanded that the US government also express regret for refusing to extradite prime accused Warren Anderson who died about a month back while absconding from Indian courts.
The organizations called upon the Indian government to move on extradition of John McDonald, secretary of Union Carbide, and not allow Dow Chemical to make any investment in the country until it accepted Union Carbide’s liabilities in Bhopal.
The organizations also demanded that the Indian government set up a commission on Bhopal for effective medical care and economic rehabilitation and social support and create a special prosecution cell for speedy prosecution of the accused Indian corporate officials including Keshub Mahindra.