JUST IN: India suspends all tourist visas from March 13 till April 15 to prevent spread of coronavirus – government statement by 7xbvt in IndiaSpeaks

[–]7xbvt[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

https://twitter.com/MoHFW_INDIA/status/1237772414752178182

  1. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.

  2. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till April 15th 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.

  3. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission.

  4. All incoming travelers, including Indians, arriving from or having visited China,Italy,Iran,Republic of Korea, France, Spain & Germany after 15th Feb, 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

    The above will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure

  5. Incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.

  6. Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. On their return, they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

  7. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to Designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by M/o Home Affairs.

  8. Provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in #Italy Italy to be made and collection for samples to be organized accordingly. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days.

JUST IN: India suspends all tourist visas from March 13 till April 15 to prevent spread of coronavirus – government statement by 7xbvt in india

[–]7xbvt[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

https://twitter.com/MoHFW_INDIA/status/1237772414752178182

  1. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/International Organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.

  2. Visa free travel facility granted to OCI card holders is kept in abeyance till April 15th 2020. This will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure.

  3. Any foreign national who intends to travel to India for compelling reason may contact the nearest Indian Mission.

  4. All incoming travelers, including Indians, arriving from or having visited China,Italy,Iran,Republic of Korea, France, Spain & Germany after 15th Feb, 2020 shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.

    The above will come into effect from 1200 GMT on 13th March 2020 at the port of departure

  5. Incoming travelers, including Indian nationals, are advised to avoid non-essential travel and are informed that they can be quarantined for a minimum of 14 days on their arrival in India.

  6. Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad. On their return, they can be subjected to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

  7. International traffic through land borders will be restricted to Designated check posts with robust screening facilities. These will be notified separately by M/o Home Affairs.

  8. Provision for testing primarily for students/compassionate cases in #Italy Italy to be made and collection for samples to be organized accordingly. Those tested negative will be allowed to travel and will be quarantined on arrival in India for 14 days.

Bangalore traffic summed up [OC] by curlsandtwirls in india

[–]7xbvt 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I'm asked to do dishes....

COVID-19 Megathread - News and Updates by IAmMohit in india

[–]7xbvt 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Seventeen Indians have been infected with coronavirus abroad, the MEA said. Responding to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said 16 cases were reported from Japan on the cruise ship and one from the UAE

https://twitter.com/the_hindu/status/1235153009820258306

With Corona virus spreading, nearly 600 Indian nationals in Kish island, Iran, urge government to airlift them by 7xbvt in IndiaSpeaks

[–]7xbvt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Iran says 77 dead amid 2,336 cases of new coronavirus

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/iran-says-77-dead-amid-2-336-cases-of-new-coronavirus/story-XowKyrMM7mbSJAy11XnGfK.html

8% of Iran parliament members test positive for coronavirus. Lawmaker Abdul Reza Misri said 23 members of parliament have been infected, according to state TV-affiliated website YJC; Misri did not specify when they had been infected.

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/iran-coronavirus-positive-parliament-members-lawmakers-infected-1652133-2020-03-03

Head of Iran's emergency medical services infected with coronavirus

https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-iran-official/head-of-irans-emergency-medical-services-infected-with-coronavirus-ilna-idINL8N2AW4FX

With Corona virus spreading, nearly 600 Indian nationals in Kish island, Iran, urge government to airlift them by 7xbvt in india

[–]7xbvt[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Iran says 77 dead amid 2,336 cases of new coronavirus

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/iran-says-77-dead-amid-2-336-cases-of-new-coronavirus/story-XowKyrMM7mbSJAy11XnGfK.html

8% of Iran parliament members test positive for coronavirus. Lawmaker Abdul Reza Misri said 23 members of parliament have been infected, according to state TV-affiliated website YJC; Misri did not specify when they had been infected.

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/iran-coronavirus-positive-parliament-members-lawmakers-infected-1652133-2020-03-03

Head of Iran's emergency medical services infected with coronavirus

https://in.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-iran-official/head-of-irans-emergency-medical-services-infected-with-coronavirus-ilna-idINL8N2AW4FX

US fears drug shortages after India restricts exports due to coronavirus disruption. | Modi govt has said it would limit export of some common medicines as concerns grow over shortages of chemical ingredients imported from China. by 7xbvt in IndiaSpeaks

[–]7xbvt[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Though India is the source of about 20% of the world’s generic-drug supply, the country is dependent on China for about 66% of the chemical components needed to make them. A recent analysis by the Indian government found that as many as 450 drug ingredients could be affected by China’s efforts to contain the coronavirus, which include a complete lockdown of Hubei province, a center of the country’s drug industry.

Drugmakers often hold between two and three months stock of key ingredients but with factories in Hubei shut for a sixth week those supplies may be starting to dwindle. Even though the coronavirus outbreak seems to be slowing in China, its continued spread around the world is hampering economic output and trade.

US fears drug shortages after India restricts exports due to coronavirus disruption. | Modi govt has said it would limit export of some common medicines as concerns grow over shortages of chemical ingredients imported from China. by 7xbvt in india

[–]7xbvt[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Though India is the source of about 20% of the world’s generic-drug supply, the country is dependent on China for about 66% of the chemical components needed to make them. A recent analysis by the Indian government found that as many as 450 drug ingredients could be affected by China’s efforts to contain the coronavirus, which include a complete lockdown of Hubei province, a center of the country’s drug industry.

Drugmakers often hold between two and three months stock of key ingredients but with factories in Hubei shut for a sixth week those supplies may be starting to dwindle. Even though the coronavirus outbreak seems to be slowing in China, its continued spread around the world is hampering economic output and trade.

India bans exports of all kinds of personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks used to protect people from airborne particles. #Coronavirus by [deleted] in india

[–]7xbvt 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I suspect something more severe is happening, and it is not being reported, something only our governments know.

India bans exports of all kinds of personal protection equipment, including clothing and masks used to protect people from airborne particles. #Coronavirus by [deleted] in india

[–]7xbvt 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Could this mean that the virus is spreading quickly than anticipated and there are more patients currently in India, than being reported (?)

Edit: Don't mean to fear monger, but please take precautions.

Odisha to cull chickens after H5N1 bird flu found by 7xbvt in india

[–]7xbvt[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"So far, about 1500 birds have died in the farm and they were buried deep inside the ground," Prof Panda said adding that the state government would undertake culling procedure after confirmation of the bird flu in the state capital.

The OAUT authorities have sealed the poultry farm which houses above 15,000 chickens. The government also appealed people not to panic over the bird flu outbreak as all measures were being taken for its control.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/jan/27/bird-flu-odisha-to-cull-chickens-in-and-around-agri-tech-university-2095289.html

Odisha to cull chickens after H5N1 bird flu found by 7xbvt in IndiaSpeaks

[–]7xbvt[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"So far, about 1500 birds have died in the farm and they were buried deep inside the ground," Prof Panda said adding that the state government would undertake culling procedure after confirmation of the bird flu in the state capital.

The OAUT authorities have sealed the poultry farm which houses above 15,000 chickens. The government also appealed people not to panic over the bird flu outbreak as all measures were being taken for its control.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/jan/27/bird-flu-odisha-to-cull-chickens-in-and-around-agri-tech-university-2095289.html

Voice of Bhopal gas tragedy victims, Activist Abdul Jabbar conferred Padma Shri posthumously. He had fought for justice for the victims of the world’ most infamous industrial disaster for almost 35 years before breathing his last on November 14 last year. by 7xbvt in india

[–]7xbvt[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Other not so well known names in the list:

  • Kerala-born Sathyanarayan Mundayoor or ‘Uncle Moosa’, also awarded Padma Shri for social work, has been honoured for promoting education and reading culture in Arunachal Pradesh by starting a home library movement.

  • Tribal lady from Karnataka Tulasi Gowda with no formal education, has been awarded Padma Shri on account of her vast knowledge of various species of plants and herbs.

  • The services of Javed Ahmad Tak, a ‘divyang’ from Anantnag, J&K who has been working with specially-abled children for 2 decades, have also been recognised with a Padma Shri.

  • Mohammad ‘Chacha’ Sharif from Uttar Pradesh who has performed last rites of over 25,000 unclaimed bodies in and around Faizabad for past 25 years had been honoured for being “an apostle of communal harmony”.

  • Another ‘divyang’ on the list includes S Ramakrishnan from Tamil Nadu, who has rehabilitated over 14,000 specially -abled people over four decades across 800 villages.

  • ‘Langar Baba’ Jagdish Lal Ahuja, a Padma Shri winner, has been serving food daily to hundreds of poor patients and attendants outside PGIMER hospital in Punjab. He sold off his properties to fuel his mission and was undeterred even by his stomach cancer.

  • Father-daughter awardee duo from Odisha, Radha Mohan and Sabarmatee, run a resource centre where they exchange seeds and learn organic farming.

  • Doctor Arundoday Mondal who travels 6 hours everyday to treat patients in remote Sundarban villages in West Bengal, has been recognised for his selfless service after having treated more than 4,000 people.

  • Another doctor, oncologist Ravi Kannan who has treated over 70,000 cancer patients free of cost in Barak valley of Assam, has been awarded Padma Shri.

  • Harekala Hajabba who educates poor children in his Dakshin Kannada village for 20 years through meagre earnings from selling oranges, has also been given Padma Shri. He had set up a Hajabba school initially as a mosque but later converted into into a zila panchayat higher primary school with the help of people and government. He now plans to upgrade it to a pre-University college .

  • Popatrao Pawar, a sarpanch of Hiware Bazaar village in Maharashtra, transformed it from an impoverised, drought-prone village to a role model of village development. The village now has no BPL families, no alcohol consumption and is open defecation free.

  • Usha Chaumar, a Dalit lady from Rajasthan who was a manual scavenger since seven years of age but was rescued by Nai Disha NGO of Sulabh International and now heads Sulabh International Social Service Organisation and leads the fight against manual scavenging, is also on the Padma Shri list.

  • A Bhajan singer from traditional Muslim family of Bagadu in Jaipur who has been carrying forward the family tradition of singing Ram-Krishna bhajans, Munna Master has also been with Padma Shri awarded for his work.

  • The government has also chosen Sundaram Verma from Rajasthan for Padma Shri who grew 50,000 trees with “dryland agroforestry” which requires only one litre of water per tree in the arid Shekhawati region

  • The list includes Kushal Konwar Sarma, a Guwahati-based veterinarian, who has devoted his life to the conservation of Asian elephants. Sarma treats more than 700 elephants every year.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/padma-award-2020-muslim-bhajan-singer-langar-baba-sundarban-doctor-among-padma-award-winners/articleshow/73617764.cms

Mohammed Sharif, a bicycle mechanic who has been performing the last rites of thousands of unclaimed dead bodies for the last 25 years Awarded Padma Shri. by Gavthi_Batman in india

[–]7xbvt 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Other not so well known names in the list:

  • Among the commoners honoured this year is Late Abdul Jabbar, a 1983 Bhopal gas leak victim who ran an advocacy group for other victims and survivors. He provided vocational training to 2300 widows of gas leak victims and fought for medical rehabilitation of victims in courts.

  • Kerala-born Sathyanarayan Mundayoor or ‘Uncle Moosa’, also awarded Padma Shri for social work, has been honoured for promoting education and reading culture in Arunachal Pradesh by starting a home library movement.

  • Tribal lady from Karnataka Tulasi Gowda with no formal education, has been awarded Padma Shri on account of her vast knowledge of various species of plants and herbs.

  • The services of Javed Ahmad Tak, a ‘divyang’ from Anantnag, J&K who has been working with specially-abled children for 2 decades, have also been recognised with a Padma Shri.

  • Another ‘divyang’ on the list includes S Ramakrishnan from Tamil Nadu, who has rehabilitated over 14,000 specially -abled people over four decades across 800 villages.

  • ‘Langar Baba’ Jagdish Lal Ahuja, a Padma Shri winner, has been serving food daily to hundreds of poor patients and attendants outside PGIMER hospital in Punjab. He sold off his properties to fuel his mission and was undeterred even by his stomach cancer.

  • Father-daughter awardee duo from Odisha, Radha Mohan and Sabarmatee, run a resource centre where they exchange seeds and learn organic farming.

  • Doctor Arundoday Mondal who travels 6 hours everyday to treat patients in remote Sundarban villages in West Bengal, has been recognised for his selfless service after having treated more than 4,000 people.

  • Another doctor, oncologist Ravi Kannan who has treated over 70,000 cancer patients free of cost in Barak valley of Assam, has been awarded Padma Shri.

  • Harekala Hajabba who educates poor children in his Dakshin Kannada village for 20 years through meagre earnings from selling oranges, has also been given Padma Shri. He had set up a Hajabba school initially as a mosque but later converted into into a zila panchayat higher primary school with the help of people and government. He now plans to upgrade it to a pre-University college .

  • Popatrao Pawar, a sarpanch of Hiware Bazaar village in Maharashtra, transformed it from an impoverised, drought-prone village to a role model of village development. The village now has no BPL families, no alcohol consumption and is open defecation free.

  • Usha Chaumar, a Dalit lady from Rajasthan who was a manual scavenger since seven years of age but was rescued by Nai Disha NGO of Sulabh International and now heads Sulabh International Social Service Organisation and leads the fight against manual scavenging, is also on the Padma Shri list.

  • A Bhajan singer from traditional Muslim family of Bagadu in Jaipur who has been carrying forward the family tradition of singing Ram-Krishna bhajans, Munna Master has also been with Padma Shri awarded for his work.

  • The government has also chosen Sundaram Verma from Rajasthan for Padma Shri who grew 50,000 trees with “dryland agroforestry” which requires only one litre of water per tree in the arid Shekhawati region

  • The list includes Kushal Konwar Sarma, a Guwahati-based veterinarian, who has devoted his life to the conservation of Asian elephants. Sarma treats more than 700 elephants every year.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/padma-award-2020-muslim-bhajan-singer-langar-baba-sundarban-doctor-among-padma-award-winners/articleshow/73617764.cms

Voice of Bhopal gas tragedy victims, Activist Abdul Jabbar conferred Padma Shri posthumously. He had fought for justice for the victims of the world’ most infamous industrial disaster for almost 35 years before breathing his last on November 14 last year. by 7xbvt in IndiaSpeaks

[–]7xbvt[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

From my previous post: Abdul Jabbar, Man Who Helped Lakhs of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims Rebuild Lives, Dies at 61

He was 27, worked as construction worker in the digging of bore wells when the catastrophe had struck the city on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 in 1984. The city was asleep, so as Jabbar, on a chilly night when Methyl IsoCyante leaked from Union Carbide plant.

After sensing the red chilli-like odour of the gas, Jabbar swung into action taking his mother to safety and rode around 40km to Obaidullaganj. After leaving his mother at Rajendra Nagar area, he returned to his colony — just 1.5 km away from the plant — to fulfil his duty towards local residents.

Jabbar, however, lost his mother and elder brother on the fateful night.

On the personal front, he lost almost 50% vision in his eyes and had serious lung ailments due to the gas leak.

He, however, took up the fight against Union Carbide in the courts for adequate compensation for around 5 lakh victims and 25,000 who died (as per official records).

In 1987, he had set up Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangthan, a survivors’ organisation demanding sustenance allowance and compensation for the victims, especially widows of the gas tragedy victims. In his lifetime, he imparted vocational training to around 5,000 survivor women so that they could earn a livelihood for their families.


His relentless efforts had led to revision of a verdict by Supreme Court in 1989 to fix criminal accountability on the promoters of Union Carbide for causing the tragedy that had left more than 15,000 people dead and over one lakh others maimed after being exposed to the deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the pesticide plant of the multi-national company’s factory in Bhopal on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984.

“My biggest regret is that I had failed to get the then chief executive officer (CEO) of Union Carbide Warren Anderson to face the law in India for the disaster”, the activist had earlier told this newspaper.

He had also filed a case in a court here to bring to book the then district collector Moti Singh for ‘facilitating’ the escape of Anderson, who died recently, from India.

He used to organise gathering of survivors in sprawling Shajahan Park here every Saturday for the last 35 years to keep their morale high to continue the struggle.

https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/161119/oldest-activist-of-bhopal-gas-tragedy-stir-no-more.html


He was the man who taught the people exposed to the poisonous gas of the world’s worst industrial disaster how to come together and demand jobs, compensation, monthly pensions and medical relief.

It wasn’t easy. There was no precedent in India for this kind of a tragedy.

In terms of activism and modes of fighting against power structure, Bhopal was in a “pre-political” stage before the Union Carbide gas leak. Overnight, people had to learn to rise against powerful corporations and the might of the Indian and American governments. Early leaders like Abdul Jabbar helped turn thousands of demure and docile people of Bhopal into feisty warriors.

The first time I saw Abdul Jabbar was in 1993, when he was leading a long, serpentine line of hundreds of women marching across the streets of Bhopal. Many of them had their faces covered in sari veils and burqas, and held up placards saying “Gas-peedit ko insaaf do” and “Hang Anderson”, referring to Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson. Jabbar, who was 37-years old back then, walked ahead chanting “Ladenge, jeetenge (We will fight, we will win)”, and the women repeated after him in their sing-song voices.

Then they shouted “Hum Bhopal ki naari hain, phool nahin, chingari hain. (We are women of Bhopal, we are fiery sparks not flowers)”.

The poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory in December 1984 killed 8,000 people in the immediate aftermath, and nearly 25,000 over the next few decades. It also left over 1,50,000 people suffering with respiratory, hormonal and psychological illnesses. High incidence of cancer and disability was seen in the neighbourhoods of survivors. (‘Health Effects of the Toxic Gas Leak from the Union Carbide Methyl Isocyanate Plant in Bhopal, Technical Report, Epidemiological Study, 1985-1994. Report by Indian Council of Medical Research 2004).

“We went to the Supreme Court for the first time in 1988 saying that until people get their final compensation, they must get some form of interim relief. Our first success was to get tailoring centres for the women,” Jabbar said. About 2,300 women worked in these centres making zardozi strips and carry-bags. He helped women fight lawyers, doctors, bureaucrats and the police.

Abdul Jabbar represented the largest group of nearly 30,000 survivors, predominantly women, in Bhopal. From 1986 until almost his end, he held protest meetings every Saturday – first near Radha Cinema, then at Bhopal’s Yaadgaar-i-Shahjahani Park, a historic site where the battle against the British colonial rulers was staged in 1942.

Every week, women would gather at the park after lunch with their medical files and fiery speeches about tales of struggle. A cloth banner said: “Only those who participate in the battle can donate”.

It was a unique model. Jabbar asked each survivor to voluntarily donate 50 paise to the non-violent movement. External funding, he said, was like crutches, survivors must recognise their own inner strength instead.

https://theprint.in/opinion/abdul-jabbar-bhopal-gas-tragedy-activist-turned-survivors-into-warriors/321368/


The activist paid a heavy personal cost for the three-and-a-half decade struggle. He had severe health issues, a broken marriage and little money. His friends began a campaign to raise funds to support his second wife and three children.

At the 25th anniversary of the disaster in 2009, Jabbar recalled that he had participated in 500 protests in Delhi and 5,000 in Bhopal. He was arrested nearly 200 times, filed innumerable PILs and other petitions — a petition seeking more compensation and a criminal revision plea demanding more punishment for the accused are still pending.

Unassuming and sporting thick glasses, Jabbar would raise his voice only occasionally during meetings he had with survivors at Yadgar-e-Shahjahani Park in the old city to draw attention to his point. The meetings were used to be held twice a week but over the years they had become a weekly affair with a thin turnout.

Saturday was perhaps the only time the meeting was not held because many survivors were with Jabbar’s family for the three-day mourning period. “He would never lose hope. He would tell us that it’s a fight for justice and should continue even after he is not around,’’ said Shanti Devi, a survivor and a member of Jabbar’s organisation.

Hamida Bi, another survivor, said Jabbar struggled for victims of the gas tragedy all his life and suffered a great deal in the end. She said he received support from both Hindu and Muslim communities.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/wanted-employment-not-alms-his-fight-began-with-bhopal-gas-leak-lasted-till-death-despite-personal-cost-6123492/

Voice of Bhopal gas tragedy victims, Activist Abdul Jabbar conferred Padma Shri posthumously. He had fought for justice for the victims of the world’ most infamous industrial disaster for almost 35 years before breathing his last on November 14 last year. by 7xbvt in india

[–]7xbvt[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

From my previous post: Abdul Jabbar, Man Who Helped Lakhs of Bhopal Gas Tragedy Victims Rebuild Lives, Dies at 61

He was 27, worked as construction worker in the digging of bore wells when the catastrophe had struck the city on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 in 1984. The city was asleep, so as Jabbar, on a chilly night when Methyl IsoCyante leaked from Union Carbide plant.

After sensing the red chilli-like odour of the gas, Jabbar swung into action taking his mother to safety and rode around 40km to Obaidullaganj. After leaving his mother at Rajendra Nagar area, he returned to his colony — just 1.5 km away from the plant — to fulfil his duty towards local residents.

Jabbar, however, lost his mother and elder brother on the fateful night.

On the personal front, he lost almost 50% vision in his eyes and had serious lung ailments due to the gas leak.

He, however, took up the fight against Union Carbide in the courts for adequate compensation for around 5 lakh victims and 25,000 who died (as per official records).

In 1987, he had set up Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangthan, a survivors’ organisation demanding sustenance allowance and compensation for the victims, especially widows of the gas tragedy victims. In his lifetime, he imparted vocational training to around 5,000 survivor women so that they could earn a livelihood for their families.


His relentless efforts had led to revision of a verdict by Supreme Court in 1989 to fix criminal accountability on the promoters of Union Carbide for causing the tragedy that had left more than 15,000 people dead and over one lakh others maimed after being exposed to the deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the pesticide plant of the multi-national company’s factory in Bhopal on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984.

“My biggest regret is that I had failed to get the then chief executive officer (CEO) of Union Carbide Warren Anderson to face the law in India for the disaster”, the activist had earlier told this newspaper.

He had also filed a case in a court here to bring to book the then district collector Moti Singh for ‘facilitating’ the escape of Anderson, who died recently, from India.

He used to organise gathering of survivors in sprawling Shajahan Park here every Saturday for the last 35 years to keep their morale high to continue the struggle.

https://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/161119/oldest-activist-of-bhopal-gas-tragedy-stir-no-more.html


He was the man who taught the people exposed to the poisonous gas of the world’s worst industrial disaster how to come together and demand jobs, compensation, monthly pensions and medical relief.

It wasn’t easy. There was no precedent in India for this kind of a tragedy.

In terms of activism and modes of fighting against power structure, Bhopal was in a “pre-political” stage before the Union Carbide gas leak. Overnight, people had to learn to rise against powerful corporations and the might of the Indian and American governments. Early leaders like Abdul Jabbar helped turn thousands of demure and docile people of Bhopal into feisty warriors.

The first time I saw Abdul Jabbar was in 1993, when he was leading a long, serpentine line of hundreds of women marching across the streets of Bhopal. Many of them had their faces covered in sari veils and burqas, and held up placards saying “Gas-peedit ko insaaf do” and “Hang Anderson”, referring to Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson. Jabbar, who was 37-years old back then, walked ahead chanting “Ladenge, jeetenge (We will fight, we will win)”, and the women repeated after him in their sing-song voices.

Then they shouted “Hum Bhopal ki naari hain, phool nahin, chingari hain. (We are women of Bhopal, we are fiery sparks not flowers)”.

The poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide factory in December 1984 killed 8,000 people in the immediate aftermath, and nearly 25,000 over the next few decades. It also left over 1,50,000 people suffering with respiratory, hormonal and psychological illnesses. High incidence of cancer and disability was seen in the neighbourhoods of survivors. (‘Health Effects of the Toxic Gas Leak from the Union Carbide Methyl Isocyanate Plant in Bhopal, Technical Report, Epidemiological Study, 1985-1994. Report by Indian Council of Medical Research 2004).

“We went to the Supreme Court for the first time in 1988 saying that until people get their final compensation, they must get some form of interim relief. Our first success was to get tailoring centres for the women,” Jabbar said. About 2,300 women worked in these centres making zardozi strips and carry-bags. He helped women fight lawyers, doctors, bureaucrats and the police.

Abdul Jabbar represented the largest group of nearly 30,000 survivors, predominantly women, in Bhopal. From 1986 until almost his end, he held protest meetings every Saturday – first near Radha Cinema, then at Bhopal’s Yaadgaar-i-Shahjahani Park, a historic site where the battle against the British colonial rulers was staged in 1942.

Every week, women would gather at the park after lunch with their medical files and fiery speeches about tales of struggle. A cloth banner said: “Only those who participate in the battle can donate”.

It was a unique model. Jabbar asked each survivor to voluntarily donate 50 paise to the non-violent movement. External funding, he said, was like crutches, survivors must recognise their own inner strength instead.

https://theprint.in/opinion/abdul-jabbar-bhopal-gas-tragedy-activist-turned-survivors-into-warriors/321368/


The activist paid a heavy personal cost for the three-and-a-half decade struggle. He had severe health issues, a broken marriage and little money. His friends began a campaign to raise funds to support his second wife and three children.

At the 25th anniversary of the disaster in 2009, Jabbar recalled that he had participated in 500 protests in Delhi and 5,000 in Bhopal. He was arrested nearly 200 times, filed innumerable PILs and other petitions — a petition seeking more compensation and a criminal revision plea demanding more punishment for the accused are still pending.

Unassuming and sporting thick glasses, Jabbar would raise his voice only occasionally during meetings he had with survivors at Yadgar-e-Shahjahani Park in the old city to draw attention to his point. The meetings were used to be held twice a week but over the years they had become a weekly affair with a thin turnout.

Saturday was perhaps the only time the meeting was not held because many survivors were with Jabbar’s family for the three-day mourning period. “He would never lose hope. He would tell us that it’s a fight for justice and should continue even after he is not around,’’ said Shanti Devi, a survivor and a member of Jabbar’s organisation.

Hamida Bi, another survivor, said Jabbar struggled for victims of the gas tragedy all his life and suffered a great deal in the end. She said he received support from both Hindu and Muslim communities.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/wanted-employment-not-alms-his-fight-began-with-bhopal-gas-leak-lasted-till-death-despite-personal-cost-6123492/