New Delhi, March. 27 (PTI): Hundreds of survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy today staged a demonstration here demanding medical rehabilitation, livelihood and environmental remediation for the victims fighting chronic ailments for the past 21 years.
Concluding an 800-km ‘padayatra’ from Bhopal to Delhi, 37 victims, who reached over the weekend, were joined by hundreds of other survivors as they began an indefinite strike till the issue was resolved “once and for all”.
“Twenty one years is a long time. The government has been sleeping all this while. It is a do or die battle for us this time,” Rasheeda Bi, one of the survivors of the tragedy at the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal in 1984, said.
“We will present a six-point charter to the government. Besides medical relief, we want employment too. We are working as labourers. We want permanent livelihood and pension,” she added.
Shouting anti-Manmohan Singh Government slogans for “talking business” with Dow Chemicals, which took over Union Carbide factory, the survivors accused the authorities of overlooking their interests.
“The government does not seem to be bothered about us. Those responsible for this suffering are still roaming free. While Union Carbide and its officials should be punished, Dow Chemicals should address long-pending issues of health and clean water,” said an agitated Chhote Khan, who supports a family of 16 members.

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