On the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy in India, we send our heartfelt support to the community of Bhopal, especially to the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh (Bhopal Gas-Affected Women’s Stationery Workers’ Union) women we have met, and to the next generations of disabled children and young people.
On the night of 2-3 December 1984, a pesticide factory owned by US company Union Carbide exploded. Between 10,000 to 20,000 Bhopalis died at the time from breathing poison gas, plus many cows and other animals. It was named the world’s worst industrial disaster.
Survivors are still demanding justice against Dow Chemical/Union Carbide, compensation, access to medical treatment, clean water and a clean-up of the site.
We are sharing two of their press releases:
Bhopal Survivors’ Organisations Present Chargesheet Against BJP (political party in government, Prime Minister Modi)
“At a press conference held on the occasion of the 41st Anniversary of the Union Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, four organizations of the survivors charged the BJP as a political party chiefly responsible for the continued injustice and suffering in Bhopal even after four decades. Presenting a “Bhopal Survivors’ Chargesheet against the BJP” they said that the BJP calls itself a patriotic party but has always been ready to serve the interest of the US corporations over that of Indian citizens.
Said Rashida Bee, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh and a survivor with chronic illnesses, “The BJP at the state government and at the centre has betrayed the Bhopal survivors like no other political party. A prominent member of BJP is known to have protected Union Carbide’s local management from charges of poisoning water around the factory and another prominent member wrote a legal opinion absolving Dow Chemical of its environmental liabilities in Bhopal which was contrary to the Indian government’s official opinion.” Read more here
Bhopal Gas Relief Department Exposed as a ‘Milch Cow’: 272.75 Crore for Survivors (approx £23 million) Looted, Wasted or Left Unspent
“In 2010, the Group of Ministers on Bhopal, Government of India, sanctioned 272.75 crore (approx £23m) for the medical, social, economic and environmental rehabilitation of survivors, transferring the funds to the state government on a 75:25 basis. Today, more than 139 crore remains unspent, while much of what is recorded as expenditure has resulted in little to no benefit for those affected.
“The Department of Gas Relief has systematically enriched contractors and officials while abandoning the constitutional and court-mandated rehabilitation of Bhopal survivors,” said Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information & Action, urging the Chief Minister to convene a meeting of the State Advisory Committee–Gas Rahat and initiate an immediate investigation into corruption and misutilisation of funds.” Read more here
UK event:
Stories from Bhopal at the 41st Anniversary!
Thursday 4 December at 7pm on Zoom. Register on Eventbrite to attend here
Free webinar held by Bhopal Medical Appeal
The event will feature talks from special guests Savraj Kaur, patron and author of photo book ’40 Children of Bhopal’, and Tim Walker, author of children’s book ‘The Prisoner of Bhopal’.
There will also be a short Q&A, and a reflection on the events in Bhopal on the 41st anniversary of the disaster.
This webinar is free to attend, and a Zoom link will be emailed to all attendees in advance of the event.
Register on Eventbrite to attend here
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Films to watch:
- On YouTube, watch “Bhopal: A prayer for rain” starring Martin Sheen as Warren Anderson, the CEO of Union Carbide Corporation.
- The drama series “The Railway Men” (available on Netflix) is also recommended by women in our group.
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