NAVAL SINGH

1. Name: Naval Singh.

2. Age: 55 years.

3. Gas affected or contaminated water affected (details): I am not affected by the gas leak but by the contaminated water from the hand pumps near the Carbide factory.

4. Address: We used to live at Indrapuri, Bhopal at the time of the gas leak, and I worked at the beer factory. I got very breathless after the disaster and the contractor i used to work under told me i was no longer employable. So i had to move away from my rented house as I was not earning anything and was unable to pay the rent. I went to Atal Ayub Nagar and put up a small hut. I live in house no. 1319, Gali no. 3, Atal Ayub Nagar, Bhopal.

5. Occupation: Now I work as a casual labourer whenever I can. Most of the time I am sick, I have trouble breathing.

6. Life worries (indebtedness, illness in the family, livelihood): At the time when the masjid was attacked in Ayodhya, there were communal riots in Bhopal. The situation was so bad that all of us to run away to safer places. During that time some people came and burnt my hut. The money I had saved for the marriage of my children was also stolen. When we came back after the riots, the whole place was in ruins. I lost everything I had. I did not get any compensation for the loss, though other people in my locality got some money for their loss. The water that we get from our hand pumps is very bad it smells and is very difficult to drink or cook with. Sometimes a tanker comes and gives us water. Otherwise we have to go to Arif Nagar to get water. When we first came to Atal Ayub Nagar we did not know about the contaminated water, and we used to drink and to cook in this water. My wife and children do not keep well; they always feel tired and cannot do any work. Their stomach and heart burns all the time, there is no appetite. They have rashes all over their body, which itches a lot. Because they do not keep well they are not able to go for work, we earn very little. It has become very difficult to carry on.

7. Income and sources of income: I earn about Rs.50.00 to Rs.60.00 per day on the days I work. When I am sick then I am not able to earn anything. My elder son also goes out whenever possible, he earns about a thousand rupees a month, this is a big help. We have no other source of income.

8. Compensation amount and how was it utilized: I have not received any compensation. After i got exposed to the poisonous gases on that night i stayed in Bhopal the next two days. My people in my village told me not to stay in Bhopal. They were afraid i would die, so i left Bhopal and went to my village. I wasn’t in Bhopal when the government carried out surveys. i never got registered as a gas victim and I have not received any compensation. I did not get any compensation for the loss I suffered in the riots.

9. Deaths of family members, relatives, friends, neighbours, cause of death, date of death: Fortunately no one died in my family.

10. Illness due to disaster: As I was not affected by the gas leak, I do not suffer on that count.

11. Current Illness (due to gas exposure or exposure to contaminated water): I am not able to breath properly; any strenuous work and I get breathless. My stomach burns all the time. I do not feel like eating anything. My heart burns continuously, I feel tired all the time. I suffer from joint pains.

12. Association with organizations: I have been involved with Sambhavna clinic and Rachana didi.

13. Participation in rallies, demonstrations, direct actions, fasts, how many, when was the first time, where was it Bhopal and elsewhere: I have actively participated in many rallies organized in Bhopal. I had gone for the demonstration at Mumbai, we had gone with lots of brooms.

14. Arrests, jail terms, beatings, legal suits: Luckily I have never been beaten by the police.

15. Activities (other than participating in protests) for improvement of the condition of survivors: No, we are very poor people, how much can we help? But in case somebody needs to be taken to the hospital, then I help out. I also try to keep my surroundings clean with the help of my neighbours.

16. Expectations from the padyatra: We go with the hope that we will get our demands fulfilled by the government. I go with the hope that we would get some compensation and that we would get better medicals treatment. The government should make the carbide corporation clean up the water and soil near the factory. We should get piped water and not water from the hand pumps. Those of us who cannot earn a living because of our sickness should be given suitable jobs. That a house be provided to us who are affected by the contaminated water. I hope that the demands will be conceded fast. The government should not say that they would study the problem and then do something. The struggle has gone too long.

17. Worries if any: I am not afraid at all. I go for my right if I die on the way so be it. But the government should realise their responsibility.

Naval Singh.
16th February 2006.