The sit-in by patients and staff of the Sambhavna Trust Clinic continued on the second day with participation of leaders of organizations of survivors of the Union Carbide disaster. The sit-in at the Clinic’s premises has been organized by the Union Carbide Poison Victims Healthcare Rights front to demand early registration of the Sambhavna Trust under FCRA so that donations from individual donors living abroad could reach the Trust and the Clinic can resume its operations.

“The Sambhavna Clinic is closed from yesterday but we will spare no efforts to get it reopened with adequate funds. It is the only place for survivors of the Bhopal disaster to get effective medical care. It is the only place that provides free healthcare to victims of contaminated groundwater. At Sambhavna we are treated with love and respect and it is just the opposite in government hospitals.” Said Rukhsana who has been receiving healthcare at Sambhavna Clinic for the last 27 years.

Balkrishna Namdeo, President of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Nirashrit Pension bhogee Sangharsh Morcha joined the sit-in in support of the Healthcare Rights front.“This struggle is not only of Sambhavna’s patients and staff, but it is a struggle of all people poisoned by Union Carbide in Bhopal. Sambhavna Clinic’s work in the last 28 years has not only provided sustained relief from exposure induced diseases but also highlighted late manifesting diseases among the gas exposed and the health impact of toxic exposure on the next generation of survivors.”

“The Sambhavna Trust has filed its application for re-registration under FCRA on February 2, 2023. The MHA portal promises decision on an application within 90 days, however, it is almost two years and MHA officials are yet to decide on Sambhavna’s application. On behalf of the Healthcare Rights Front we have informed the Home Minister of our peaceful protest and are awaiting replies to the two letters we have sent so far.” said Satinath Sarangi who is among the 52 employees of the Sambhavna Trust rendered jobless due to the closure of the Clinic from yesterday.