Bhopal tragedy victims’ fight for justice, compensation continues

Justice still eludes the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Twenty-five years ago, the central government allowed Warren Anderson, the then chairman of Union Carbide Corporation, to escape criminal proceedings in India. Today, cases against the factory are still dragging on in the district court.

For the victims, getting compensation was a herculean task. In 1985, the government restricted the victims from fighting the compensation claims independently. It was decided that the government would act as the legal representative of all victims.

The corporation proposed an amount of $350 million as against the government’s demand of $3.3 billion. In 1989, through a settlement, the corporation agreed to pay compensation of $470 million.

Compensation distribution began in 1992 after ‘gas claim’ courts were set up where the victims had to prove that they were affected by the gas leak. If one proved that one had been born before the tragedy and was living in any of the 36 affected wards at the time of the gas leak, he or she became entitled to a minimum compensation of Rs25,000. Many settled for this sum. Those who pressed for enhanced compensation only ended up paying huge amounts as fees to lawyers.

Till October 31, 2009, 5,74,372 out of 10,29,517 people who had filed for compensation received it.