By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: On the eve of the Bhopal gas tragedy, special children (those born with congenital disabilities to women gas tragedy survivors) of Chingari rehabilitation centre paid condolence to martyrs of the Bhopal Union Carbide/Dow gas tragedy by conducting a small peaceful candle vigil at the historic Iqbal Maidan.
Apart from the candle light vigil after sunset on Sunday evening, these special children also presented a small play highlighting the plight and pain in the life of the people affected by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
Special Children of Chingari rehabilitation centre paying condolence to martyrs of Bhopal gas tragedy by conducting a small peaceful candle light vigil at the historic Iqbal Maidan after sunset on Sunday evening
Children with different types of congenital disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, muscular dystrophy, hearing impaired etc participated in the candle light vigil and play. The main motto of this peaceful candle light vigil and play was to remember the pain and trauma their loved ones have gone through. And these children, in ample measure also demonstrated to the world to learn a lesson from this tragedy and to take preventive measures to avoid the occurrence of any such disaster in future.
The Chingari Trust had put up an exhibition highlighting their activities and model of Union Carbide plant at historic Iqbal Maidan here.
According to Rashida Bee and Champa Devi Shukla, co-founders and managing trustees, the Chingari Trust has worked for seven years for the rehabilitation of 2nd and 3rd generation children born to parents and grandparents affected by the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy and the ongoing water contamination. The Trust has undertaken care of the children born with congenital disorders such as deformed body, with cut lips, under developed or without fingers, with mental retardation, bent hands and/or legs, deaf and dumb etc. and to parents affected by poisonous gas released from the Union Carbide/Dow pesticide factory and ground water contamination thereafter.
Yet another view of candle light vigil by Special Children
As of today, nearly more than 700 children are already registered with Chingari Rehabilitation Centre, with about 200 children coming every day with their mothers to receive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, special education, sports sessions, supplementary nutrition provisions and transportation facilities – all free of charge, they said.
Two elderly ladies Rashida and Champa said: “We are really happy that so many children coming to Chingari have shown positive changes in their lives. But at the same time, we feel sad about the fact that we have been able to provide these facilities to only 200 children. More than 500 children registered with Chingari Trust and many more such children born in the gas and water affected families who need similar medical care facilities are still left out. Government should take complete responsibility of rehabilitation of these children and ensure that proper care is provided to them.”
A scene from the play
It may be pointed out here that in 2004, Rashida Bee’s contribution to the community was recognized with Champa Devi Shukla and they were awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. Both women decided to donate the entire sum of money towards establishing a charitable trust for the welfare of gas victims.
Dr Sanjay Gaur, physiotherapist of the trust said: “Our department is involved in providing physiotherapy to these children and has witnessed unbelievable progress. One third of children who were initially not able to sit have now started sitting properly. Approximately 40 children who were initially able to stand but could not walk are now walking freely. There has been tremendous progress in about 15 % of the children who were not even able to sit but after the therapy are now able to run around. I hope and believe that definitely with the help of physiotherapy, we can bring more improvement in the lives of these children.”
Master Zayed , 12, afflicted with stunted growth who acted in the play in the role of Warren Anderson, Union Carbide’s the then Executive Director
Dr Poonam Gaur, the occupational therapist of the trust, said that an average 30 children with autism, behavioural problems, sensory disorders and developmental delays are treated here. A vast improvement in behavioural change has been noticed in these children. Four autistic children have started going to the normal schools. Those children who could not chew their food are now able to chew and eat normally.
Nausheen Khan, speech therapist, said at present there are 25 children with us who were initially not able to produce any kind of vocal sound are now able to speak simple sentences and 12 children started talking fluently. Out of 24 hearing impaired children in our department, who neither heard nor produced any kind of vocal sound in the past, as of today 10 of them have started listening and speaking.
Chingari Trust has put up an exhibition about their activities and Union Carbide plant at the historic Iqbal Maidan in Bhopal
Kanchan Dixit, special educator, revealed that there were more than 100 children who were not able to socialize with others before coming to Chingari but now they have started socializing intermixing with others. About 60 children who were having issues in reading and writing are now able to write and understand. Our biggest achievement is that now 21 special children of Chingari have started going to normal schools.
Related:
Bhopal – Three decades of Struggle