What is the situation like in Bhopal now?
The situation for victims is much the same as it was on December 3, 1984. The relief and rehabilitation programmes meant for the victimshave been garnered by other people such as politicians, agents, even some social workers, especially some NGOs. For the victims, the gas disaster is a curse; for many othersit is a gift that they have exploited. Those travelling in scooters [autorickshaws] yesterday, today keep cars. No doubt some people made money out of it. In 1988, the state government had said that per daysome 2,800 (gas) victims visit the city’s hospitals for treatment. Today, the same hospitals saythey handle 4,500 OPD patients per day. Along with the patients handled by the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, a total of 6,500 patients are handled per day. The number of patients admitted for treatment is around 30,000. Moreover, there are about 1,000 private practitioners and perhaps the same number of quacks who daily treat gas victims. Put all these figures together a
