S a m b h a v n a T r u s t
44, Sant Kanwar Ram Nagar, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462 018 Tel: 91-755-2730914 / 2743157
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April 25, 2005
The new building of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic for survivors of the Bhopal Gas disaster will be inaugurated by internationally renowned social and political activist Swami Agnivesh on April 27, 2005 at 11 AM. The building situated at Bafna colony, is in the middle of communities severely affected by the December 1984 disaster.
Awarded the International Right Livelihood Award (known as the alternate Noble Prize), in 2004 Swami Agnivesh is a spiritual leader who has long fought for the rights of the poor and oppressed. He continues to provide critical support to the Bhopal survivors’ struggle for justice and a life of dignity.
Designed and built by the House of Consultants, Bangalore the building makes full use of natural light and wind, has facilities for harvesting rain water and recycling waste water and uses solar energy for heating, electricity and disinfection of medical waste. Next to the building is a one acre garden of medicinal plants that supply fresh herbs to the clinic.
Funded by the Fondation Pro Victimis, Geneva, Dominique Lapierre City of Joy foundation, Paris and the Greenpeace, Netherlands the Sambhavna Trust Clinic’s new building is one of the finest combinations of ecological, aesthetic and economical considerations. With a built up area of over 20, 000Sq.ft the stone and brick building’s estimated cost is Rs. 1 Crore 30 lakhs including cost of landscaping.
Sambhavna will be offering free medical care to three times more persons at the new building compared to the old and will have several new facilities such as Ultra sonography and microbiological investigations, medicine production, computerized registration and monitoring.
Among the Clinic’s present staff of 38, there are 5 doctors, two therapists and one Yoga instructor. The Trust is administered by a board of seven trustees including city physician Dr H H Trivedi and has internationally renowned scientist, Padma Bhusan Dr P M Bhargava as its Chairperson.
Since its inception in 1996, the Clinic has offered free medical care through Modern medicine, Ayurveda and Yoga to over 14, 000 survivors of the disaster and those affected by ground water contamination. The Clinic’s community health workers have achieved remarkable results in controlling Tuberculosis and other diseases in the communities and the documentation unit’s surveys have helped survivors win their legal rights in the Supreme Court of India. The Clinic’s work has been published in international medical journals and has earned the Trust two international awards. The funds to run the Clinic mainly come as small donations from a large number of individuals in India, UK and USA. Internationally best selling author Mr Dominique Lapierre contributes to the running of the Gynaecology and other community units.
The inaugural function on 27th April is expected to be attended by thousands of survivors and will include presentations of work and future plans by each staff member of Sambhavna. A “Qawalee” by Saleem Jhankar and his team of 10 co-singers from Gwalior has been organized at 7 PM at the same venue. The Sambhavna Trust has extended an invitation to all citizens to these events.
Satinath Sarangi
Managing Trustee
Please visit www.bhopal.org for more information
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