25 years on, NGOs have failed to sink their differences
NGOs working overtime to wrest justice for the victims of
the Bhopal gas tragedy are at loggerheads with each other all of 25 years after the world’s worst industrial disaster shook the city. More than 8,000 people lost their lives and thousands were injured when a deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant at midnight on December 1984. After the disaster, a number of forums, groups and different political parties came together to fight to secure justice for the gas leak victims. They formed a common front named Zaharili Gas Kand Sangharsh Morcha. Owing to this organisation’s concerted effort many victims got justice.
But within a few years, infighting surfaced among them regarding the principles and practical approach to work for the victims. Things went from bad to worse six years ago when Champa Devi Shukla and Rashida Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh were awarded the Goldman Environment Prize by the American Public Association for their relief work among gas victims. The dispute was over the use of the prize money. Rashida Bee claimed that the award was for the individual. But Sunita Shrivastava didn’t accept this, arguing that the prize money should be distributed among the gas victims. Irked by the development, she left the Sangh and founded Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationery Karmachari Morcha. Since then relations between the two has continued to fester.
However, it was expected that on the 25th anniversary of the disaster they would come together. But no such signs are visible. Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha’s president Balkrishna Namdev says: “It’s difficult to solve these disputes because they believe in different approaches and principles in tackling the crisis. It is a tragedy.”
Sadhna Karnik, convener of Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti, says: “If clashes and ideological disputes persist even 25 years after the diasaster, then what is the need to have joint programmes? However, on major issues we all are together and make joint efforts to achieve our ends.”
Rashida Bee pointed out that though efforts are still being made for collective action, it is not possible anymore to operate from one platform. But Abdul Jabbar, convener of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan, hasn’t lost all hope. He emphasised that though differences and diputes have cropped up, we are all working for the rights of the gas victims. He expects that everyone will come together once more on the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster.
NGOs working overtime to wrest justice for the victims of
the Bhopal gas tragedy are at loggerheads with each other all of 25 years after the world’s worst industrial disaster shook the city. More than 8,000 people lost their lives and thousands were injured when a deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant at midnight on December 1984. After the disaster, a number of forums, groups and different political parties came together to fight to secure justice for the gas leak victims. They formed a common front named Zaharili Gas Kand Sangharsh Morcha. Owing to this organisation’s concerted effort many victims got justice.But within a few years, infighting surfaced among them regarding the principles and practical approach to work for the victims. Things went from bad to worse six years ago when Champa Devi Shukla and Rashida Bee of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh were awarded the Goldman Environment Prize by the American Public Association for their relief work among gas victims. The dispute was over the use of the prize money. Rashida Bee claimed that the award was for the individual. But Sunita Shrivastava didn’t accept this, arguing that the prize money should be distributed among the gas victims. Irked by the development, she left the Sangh and founded Bhopal Gas Peedit Stationery Karmachari Morcha. Since then relations between the two has continued to fester.
However, it was expected that on the 25th anniversary of the disaster they would come together. But no such signs are visible. Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh Morcha’s president Balkrishna Namdev says: “It’s difficult to solve these disputes because they believe in different approaches and principles in tackling the crisis. It is a tragedy.”
Sadhna Karnik, convener of Gas Peedit Sangharsh Sahyog Samiti, says: “If clashes and ideological disputes persist even 25 years after the diasaster, then what is the need to have joint programmes? However, on major issues we all are together and make joint efforts to achieve our ends.”
Rashida Bee pointed out that though efforts are still being made for collective action, it is not possible anymore to operate from one platform. But Abdul Jabbar, convener of Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan, hasn’t lost all hope. He emphasised that though differences and diputes have cropped up, we are all working for the rights of the gas victims. He expects that everyone will come together once more on the 25th anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster.
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