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Bhopal tragedy: Injustice continues in hospitals
Neha Khanna
Friday, June 11, 2010, (New Delhi)
Sameena, age 29, is desperate for help. When she arrived at the Bhopal Memorial Hospital, she hoped that she was guaranteed the assistance she needs for her condition - renal failure.
She is one of the thousands of people who live in Bhopal and pay the price for the corporate negligence that hurtled the city into the world's biggest industrial disaster in 1984. A gas leak from the Union Carbide plant poisoned Bhopal. Twenty thousand people have died. Others, like Sameena, are living reminders that 25 years later, Bhopal's present its loaded with its past.
Sameena has the papers that establish her medical problems are caused by the gas tragedy. But, at the hospital, set up by Union Carbide to treat victims, nobody has the time to attend to her.
Sameena's brother, Nafees, reveals, "They told us the machine needed is not free. We'll call you another time. They never called. This hospital treats only private patients who can make it rich." That charge is echoed by many other patients. "This is totally baseless... 90 per cent of the patients are gas victims," counters the hospital's Director, Dr K K Maudar.
We try to talk to patients who seem more priveliged. Then, hospital authorities get into an argument with us, and insist on escorting us for the rest of our tour. They refuse to show us the hospital's list of patients - a document that should list the number of victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy that are being treated here.
What we do see, clearly, is a portrait in the corridors of Justice A M Ahmadi. He is not a popular man among the surviving victims in Bhopal. He rescued Carbide in 1994. Two years after a Bhopal judge ordered that Union Carbide's properties should be attached to court because their executives were ignoring court summons, Ahmadi reversed that decision. The company was allowed to sell its properties. The agreement was that the money would be used to set up a trust and a 500-bed hospital which would treat victims of the tragedy at no cost to them.
In 1996, as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, he accepted a plea from Carbide executives to reduce the charges against them for their role in the 1984 tragedy to criminal negligence - a crime covered by a maximum sentence of two years. The original charges - pressed by the CBI - accused them of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which carries a sentence of 10 years.
Two years after that, in 1998, Justice Ahmadi became the chairman of the hospital trust for life. Ahmadi claims the Supreme Court asked him to chair it.
But activists say this is misleading... the appointment was made by the Trust constituted by Union Carbide. This, they argue is another example of collusion among Carbide and those who were powerful and influential.
As evidence, they say a hospital set up for victims has become a super specialty medical facility for the rich instead.
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Posted by M.Murli on Tuesday, June 22, 2010
This new found urge to extradite Anderson and get Dow to pay for the disaster is a sham on the part of the Central Govt.Disaster happened in 1984. In 1989 Govt. had an out of court settlement with Union Carbide absolving it of all further liabilities and in 1999 Dow chemicals purchased Union Carbide whose local Indian unit which held 51% stake is responsible for the gas leak.Dow never owned, operated or inherited the liabilities of Union Carbide which the Govt. knows very well then on what basis is the Central Govt. so sure that their demands are going to be meekly accepted by US or can win the case in US courts. They know very well that it is not only impossible but also know that the case can drag for a long time during which period they can easily persuade the affected parties to accept the measly compensation as a compromise and give closure to the case.
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Posted by Sriram on Monday, June 21, 2010
The Bhopal Victims are our citizens, Indian and State Govt. should first ensure relief and compensation, then later start the Blame Game !
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Posted by babu on Monday, June 21, 2010
If the Hon'ble Prime Minister is ready to give his consent for payment of Rs.10,00,000/- to the victims/their families, then please
add interest (based on bank's rate prevailed during this period) for the last 25 years on Rs.10,00,000/- and give the total amount to the victims. Since, the incidents occurred in 1984, compensation should have been given immediately thereafter. When there is a delay from Government's side, Government has to give interest for the same.
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Posted by samar das, UK on Saturday, June 19, 2010
President OBAMA and US govt. must pay for Union Carbide's callous disregard to the dead and living victims plus cleaning up costs and refurbishements for Bhopal immediately.
Until and unless Corporate America and its Govt do those, they have no Moral ground to criticize BP for mexico gulf disaster
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Posted by Arti Agarwal on Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Justice must me given to the victims of Bhopal gas tragedy as soon as possible because a delayed justice is equivalent to injustice.
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Posted by Karavadi Raghava Rao on Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Justice is over delayed and justice is buried.The Main Culprit escaped from the country itself with the help of the Government Bosses of that day.Definitely money played the biggest role in this horrible human tragedy.Criminal Law should be changed and severe punishments should be prescribed for offenses of this Nature.Even if USA extradites 90 year old Anderson the case will prolong for at least for five years during which time he may---?
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Posted by Latu on Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Why don't all the politicians who are feeling so sad for the Bhopal victims, contribute to a welfare fund for the victims? This fund can give them all the medical-legal help they need over a period of time Anyway, our politicians have amassed a lot of wealth which is going to last several of their generations and no way they can carry it with them when the time comes. They can put it to some good use and earn some goodwill.
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Posted by raam on Tuesday, June 15, 2010
hi,
is inaction by mp govt in providing clean water unavoidable what are legal limitation if any
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Posted by Babu on Monday, June 14, 2010
The person/s responsible for this tragedy alongwith the person/s allowing them to do so and permit them to leave the country should have been given illustrative punishment without any further delay. Also, enough compensation should be given to victims/their families immediately. This type of justice is nothing but an eye-wash. This is nothing but a delaying tactics being followed by all the persons invloved in it and to get political gain from it. Last but not the least, India Government should ask USA to extend their all possible help to recover the amount of compensation from USA Company only.
Waiting for your comments.
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Posted by Mallemala RM Reddy on Monday, June 14, 2010
The Bhopal gas tragedy happen in 1984, from that day to to-day many PM's with their governence no body not bother about commen people.From Mr.RajeevGandhi to Mr.Manmohna singh including Mr.Vajpai nothing done to the Bhopal public, it is our sad and reducles democracy to our poor public. With out knowledge of the than PM Mr Rajeev Mr. Arjunsngh helped to the culprits Anderson, it is un belivable
The total issue to be accept by Congress party at least now.
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