Information on Padyatris

  1. Name: Babulal Baba.
  2. Age: 60 years.
  3. Gas affected or contaminated water affected [details]: I am affected by the water near the Carbide factory. I suffer from nausea, giddiness and weakness. I am not able to do any work. My eyes get watery and then I am unable to close them and have to lie down till the tears stop.
  4. Address [present and in 1984]: at the time of the gas leak I was living on the footpath at Berasia Raod. I was working as a casual labourer. Just after the leak my family and I ran away to Sukalia village which is near Berasia. We came back after a few months of the leak. Now I live in Annu Nagar near the railway crossing.  I live next to the rail tracks.
  5. Occupation [in 1984 and now]: At the time of the gas leak I was working as a casual labourer, but now I have no job. I depend on the generosity of others to keep body and soul together.
  6. Life worries [indebtedness, illness in the family, livelihood]: I am worried about the Kali mandir that I look after. The mandir is in a very bad shape and in these times of rising living costs nobody is interested in their religious duty.  The mandir is in ruins but no help seems forthcoming. My next meal is uncertain. I do not take any help from my son who lives nearby and is also affected by the gas and the contaminated water.

My son is a casual labourer and is also affected by the gas leak and the toxic water. He is unable to work properly and therefore hardly earns a livelihood. My grand children also suffer from giddiness and breathlessness. They also get boils on their skin.  There is no school in our locality.  The nearest school is at DIG bunglow which is very far away.

  1. Income and source of income: I have no income.
  2. Compensation amount and how was it utilized: As I have not been able to prove that I was in Bhopal at the time of the gas leak, I have not received any compensation.
  3. Deaths of family members, relatives, friends, neighbours, cause of death, date of death: No deaths in the family
  4. Illness due to disaster: Burning sensation in eyes and giddiness.  But since my family and I have no papers like ration card etc., we were not able to claim any relief nor were we able to prove that we were in Bhopal at the time of the gas leak.
  5. Current illness [due to gas exposure or exposure to contaminated water]: Exposure to the toxic water has lead to nausea, giddiness and breathlessness. My eyes get watery all of a sudden and then I am unable to shut them.  I am not able to do any streneuos work and has been reduces to depend on others for my next meal.
  6. Association with organizations: I have been associated with the Sambhavna Trust and with Shameem and Jabbar Bhai. Now I have stopped going with Jabbar and others.
  7. Participation in rallies, demonstrations, direct actions, fasts, how many, when was the first time, where was it Bhopal and elsewhere: I have participated in almost all the rallies held in Bhopal, irrespective of who organized it. I also attend all the Saturday meetings held by various organizations. I do not remember when was the first rally I attended. I have attended the rally at the Chief MinisterŐs residence where the police had resorted to severe lathi charge. I have not gone anywhere outside Bhopal.
  8. Arrests, jail terms, beatings, legal suits: I have not been arrested any time but was involved in a lathi charge at a rally held at the NVDA office.  The police had beaten me very badly and during the process I lost my kamandal and pooja bead which I used for Kali pooja. Police beatings are a regular feature at the trallies.
  9. Activities [other than participating in protests] for improvement of the condition of survivors: I help out as and when I am able to do so in the neighbourhood. Too many people are sick everybody needs help. Usually people in Annu Nagar get together and help each other out at times of difficulties. Although everybody has their own problems, but people do come out to help each other.
  10. Expectations from the Padyatra: I expect that with the pressure of the padyatra the soil and water will be cleaned up and the government shall ensure that the health and employment problems will be taken care of.  Clean drinking water should be provided immediately.  People responsible for the gas leak and for the water contamination should be tried.  Proper punishment should be given to all responsible for this.
  11. Worries if any: