RAM GOPAL

1. Name: Ram Gopal

2. Age: 40 years.

3. Gas affected or contaminated water affected (details): I am affected by the contaminated water from the as leak from the Carbide factory.

4. Address: We used to live at Bairagarh, Bhopal at the time of the gas leak, and now I live at House No.1320, Gali No. 3, Atal Ayub Nagar, Bhopal. We came here about 18 years back. My father died about 22 years back and we were living in a rented in house in Bairagarh, after his death it became very difficult for us to make ends meet. I was very small at that time but I had learnt tailoring. Some friends told me to move into Bhopal town instead of living in Bairagarh. And that is how I came to Atal Ayub Nagar.

5. Occupation: I work as a tailor from home. Neighbours come with their clothes to be stitched, the work is not enough, but somehow I carry on.

6. Life worries (indebtedness, illness in the family, livelihood): At Atal Ayub nagar there is no electricity. We have to use water from the hand well. It is very rarely that we get water by tanker. I have two sons and two daughters. The eldest son who is about 20 years suffers from continuous stomachache and his eyesight is weak. Even with spectacles he is not able to see properly. He also complains about joint pains. My wife suffers from heartburn and breathlessness. She has joint pains and does not have any appetite. She is very weak. She is not able to do much work. We are not able to medically treat ourselves due to the high cost of doctors and medicines. So now we come to Sambhavna clinic. The treatment is good here and we can now feel the difference.

7. Income and sources of income: I earn about Rs.70.00 to Rs.80.00 per day on the days I work. Sometimes there is no work and at other times when there is work I am ill. My children sometimes go and work as casual labourers. This augments the family income to a little extent.

8. Compensation amount and how was it utilized: I have not received any compensation, as I am not affected by the gas leak.

9. Deaths of family members, relatives, friends, neighbours, cause of death, date of death: One child of mine died in 1992 when he was 5 years. He used to complain of stomach problem. I treated him by taking him to the hospital at DIG bunglow, but the doctors were not able to make out anything. He was treated continuously for three years. I have also lost a nephew who was one and a half years at the time he also suffered from stomach ailments. We had even taken him to Hamidia Hospital but we were not able to save him. All this stomach problems, we later understood was because of the contaminated water from the hand pumps. A lot of people in the neighbourhood have died. Most of them young, and all of them were somehow or the other affected by the water.

10. Illness due to disaster: As I was not affected by the gas leak, I do not suffer on that count. But it has been made by the water we drink.

11. Current Illness (due to gas exposure or exposure to contaminated water): My stomach burns all the time. I do not feel like eating anything. It feels as if the stomach is full of gas. I suffer from joint pains. Even though I eat so less, I have heartburn, which is very severe. I suffer from rashes all over the body; my son also suffers from this. The medicine from the clinic has reduced these rashes.

12. Association with organizations: I have been involved with Sambhavna clinic and Rachana didi. I have been involved with them for the last 8 years.

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 also attend the meeting held every Wednesday at Chola.

14. Arrests, jail terms, beatings, legal suits: Luckily I have never been beaten by the police, though there have been many instances of lathi charge during the rallies and demonstrations.

15. Activities (other than participating in protests) for improvement of the condition of survivors: I try to help as much as possible in the neighbourhood. I realize I am not doing enough, but I am also not well. Despite this I do try my best.

16. Expectations from the padyatra: I go with the hope that we would get some compensation and that we would get better medical treatment. The government should make the carbide factory 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.

17. Worries if any: I have no worries about walking all the way to Delhi. I am sure that we will reach there safely, not only that we will force the government to listen to our demands. The government has to look after its citizens.

Ram Gopal Acchelal.
16th February 2006.