Information on Padyatris

  1. Name: Rubina.
  2. Age: 35 years.
  3. Gas affected or contaminated water affected [details]: I am affected by contaminated water. I suffer from giddiness and am not able to work regularly, I also suffer from heartburn, if I do any strenuous work I am not able to see properly, even walking at a brisk pace is not possible. The water here has also caused swelling in hands and legs.
  4. Address [present and in 1984]: At the time of the gas leak we were living in Kazi Camp, but a few days prior to the leak my family and I had gone to my ancestral village and thus we were spared from exposure to the gas. Now we live in Jhuggi No. 6, Annu Nagar near the Berasia Railway Crossing.
  5. Occupation [in 1984 and now]: I go and clean houses in the nearby colonies. At other times I work as a casual labourer at construction sites.
  6. Life worries [indebtedness, illness in the family, livelihood]: Everybody in my family is ill. There are 15 of us. My daughter in law is seriously ill. We have taken a loan for her treatment. My daughter gets boils all over her body due to the contaminated water.  There are four adults in the family we all go out to work but are unable to get regular work. We get sick often so nobody employs us on a regular basis.

There is no school in my colony and the children are not able to go to school. There are no hospitals either. Sometimes there is not even enough money to make the parchas at the government hospital at DIG bunglow.  Once I did not have Rs. 10.00 to make two parchas for my two children and had to go back without treatment. The cost of living is rising and income is decreasing. At times at the work site I get sick and have to stop working, then I am not paid at all and the whole day goes waste.  This happens often.

  1. Income and source of income: All of us together earn about Rs. 3000.00 per month, which is not enough for  the food need of the family, let alone the medicines. And work is not available regularly.  There are days when there is no work and then the income goes down.
  2. Compensation amount and how was it utilized: We have not received any compensation as we were not affected by the gas leak.
  3. Deaths of family members, relatives, friends, neighbours, cause of death, date of death: No deaths.
  4. Illness due to disaster: Our present illness is not due to the gas leak but due to the polluted water in and around the Carbide factory.
  5. Current illness [due to gas exposure or exposure to contaminated water]: I am affected by contaminated water. I suffer from giddiness and am not able to work regularly, I also suffer from heartburn, if I do any strenuous work I am not able to see properly, even walking at a brisk pace is not possible. The water here has also caused swelling in hands and legs.
  6. Association with organizations: I used to be with Bhopal gas peedit mahila udyog sangathan and then the gas peedit nirashrit sangharsh morcha now I am with the four organizations that took up the cause of the people affected by ground water contamination.
  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 meetings on Saturdays gas peedit nirashrit sangharsh morcha at Barkhedi. These meetings were called by Shameem bhai. Ihave gone to Delhi for a rally with Rachna didi in October / November last year. I have also attended meetings of Bhopal gas peedit mahila udyog sangathan . I also went to tie rakhi on the Chief Minister Babaulal Gaur.
  8. Arrests, jail terms, beatings, legal suits: I have attended rallies where police have resorted to lathi charge, but somehow I have never been at the receiving end.
  9. Activities [other than participating in protests] for improvement of the condition of survivors: Other than taking part in the rallies I try to help out at my neighbourhood. In case of any problem with anyone we all get together and go to their aid to mitigate the problem as best as possible.
  10. Expectations from the Padyatra: I expect that something will be done to clean up the water in my locality.  That the problems faced by us would be looked into.  The cleaning should be done by the company that has polluted the environs.  The government should ensure that the company cleans the water and soil and that the same is done properly and without causing fresh problems to others.
  11. Worries if any: