|
Bhopal: The victims of the Bhopal
Gas Tragedy, the world’s worst industrial catastrophe, have given
a call for indefinite “Rail Roko” (Stop trains) agitation if their
demand for ensuring adequate compensation to all victims of the
disaster is not met within the next one month.
Addressing a joint Press conference here on Monday five
organizations (NGOs) working for the welfare of the survivors of
December 1984 Union Carbide disaster announced that they will hold
a peaceful “Rail Roko” if their demands are not met forthwith.
The organizations who had organized a successful city-wide Bhopal
Bandh on October 11 last demanded that the central and state
governments present correct figures of injury and death in the
soon to be heard curative petition in the Supreme Court.
The representatives of five organizations viz. Bhopal Gas Peedit
Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush
Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi
Sangharsh Morcha, Bhopal Group for Information & Action and
Children Against Dow Carbide jointly addressed the Press
conference.
“The peaceful manner in which survivors of all walks of life came
together for the Bhopal Bandh is a testimony of the people of
Bhopal’s collective spirit against injustice”, said Rashida Bee of
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh. “We are very
hopeful that the call for indefinite peaceful “Rail Roko” will
receive similar widespread response from the survivors of the
disaster”, she added.
The organizations presented copies of letters sent to the Prime
Minister, Chief Minister and Group of Minister on Bhopal in the
last one year on the issue of wrongful denial of compensation to
majority of the gas victims.
“All we are asking is that the government presents figures of
injury and death based on the report of the Indian Council of
Medical Research on the health impacts of the disaster. These
findings show that majority of gas victims are permanently and not
temporarily injured and that the death toll of the disaster is
about five times more than the official figures”, said Nawab Khan
of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Morcha.
Satinath Sarangi of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action
said that they are giving the government one month’s time, which
is more than sufficient time to review and rectify the figures of
death and injury in the curative petition. He said that the
organizations were well aware of the inconvenience that would be
caused to ordinary people due to the indefinite “Rail Roko” and
are inviting suggestions for other equally effective mass actions
at # 9826167369. He however hopes that good sense will prevail
upon the concerned state and central government officials so that
“Rail Roko” was no longer necessary.
Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi
Sangharsh Morcha appealed to all survivors of the disaster who has
not received adequate compensation to join the petitions to the
Prime Minister and Chief Minister on this issue. The petition
which will be submitted to the central and state governments in
the next 15 days has already been signed by over 10,000 survivors,
he informed.
It may be recalled here that 40 tones of methyl isocyanate, (MIC –
a highly volatile toxic chemical), gas spewed from the pesticide
plant – owned by Union Carbide India Limited, (UCIL), a subsidiary
of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), USA – in the intervening night
of December 2-3, 1984. The gas leak killed 3,000 people instantly
and more than 25,000 over the years and inflicting grievous
injuries on countless others. Many were deformed for life and many
children born with the toxic effect are sick and with congenital
malformations. It also affected 100,000 people that night and
estimates are that more than 500,000 continue to suffer till date.
(pervezbari@eth.net)
|
Comments
|
Quick links