Minister failed to deliver promises to the victims, say organisations representing Bhopal gas disaster victims

Five organisations alleged that Bhopal gas relief and rehabilitation minister Viswas Sarang has failed to live up to the promises made to the victims in over last 17 months.
A memorial for the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy (Pic: Wikimedia Commons)
A memorial for the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy (Pic: Wikimedia Commons)

BHOPAL: As many as five organisations working for the 1984 Bhopal Gas Disaster-affected people alleged that Bhopal gas relief and rehabilitation minister Viswas Sarang has failed to live up to the promises made to the victims in over last 17 months.

The chief of Bhopal Gas Pidit Mahila (BGPM) Stationary Karamchari Sangh, Rashida Bi said, “On July 9, 2016, the minister had said the scientific report would be prepared in three months and based on it an action plan for the comprehensive welfare and care of the gas disaster-affected population would be devised. But nothing has happened so far.”

BGPM Purush Sangharsh Morcha representative Nawab Khan said, “In December 2016, the minister had announced starting bar-coded Smart Card for proper medical treatment and care of the gas tragedy victims at different hospitals. But the bar-coded Smart Card still remains a distant dream.

“In July 2016, the minister had also announced filling up vacancies of specialists and doctors at the hospitals meant for treating gas disaster hit families, but till date 80 per cent vacancies of specialists and 30 per cent vacancies of doctors at these hospitals have not been filled,” alleged Khan.

Also, Bhopal Gas Pidit Nirashrit Pensioners Sangharsh Morcha chief Balkrishna Namdev alleged that the monthly pensions for the widows of 1984 disaster victims have not been dispersed in last 17 months.

A chemical engineering expert-turned-social activist Satinath Sarangi from Bhopal Group for Information and Action termed the failure as a betrayal of the interests of the 5.74 lakh people affected during the 1984 disaster and decided to take their plea to Rashtrapati Bhavan. “We would try to meet President Ramnath Kovind in the matter, as he’ll be in Bhopal on Friday. If we’re not allowed to meet him, we’ll write to Rashtrapati Bhavan about the plight of the affected families,” said Sarangi.

Despite efforts by the New Indian Express, the gas relief and rehabilitation minister, Vishwas Sarang, couldn’t be contacted in the matter.

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