Victims of the Bhopal gas leak were protesting in central Bhopal City on Wednesday, over faults in the compensation package finalized by the Group of Ministers for the victims.

In the early hours of December 3, 1984, around 40 metric tons of toxic gas leaked into the atmosphere and was carried by the wind to the surrounding slums.

The Group of Ministers were formed to check all aspects of the Bhopal gas disaster.

The group are dealing with compensation matters, legal issues including the extradition of the responsible corporation head and advising the options available to India’s government, and most importantly, remediation and health matters.

The Group of Ministers had handed their report to Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on June 21.

The government then split affected areas into wards for giving out compensations.

Aarif Masud, member of an organization for the Bhopal gas victims:

[Aarif Masud, Member, Organization for Bhopal Gas Victims]: (male, Hindi)
"We had requested Sonia Gandhi and had also urged the GoM [Group of Ministers] during their meetings, that 575,000 victims should get the compensation. Giving compensation to the deceased's kin is a welcome step but the dead are gone, the surviving victims are living in much difficulty. They have no money to survive. The government has also not been able to give them employment."

The protestors say the exile of former Union Carbide Coporation leader, Warren Anderson, is important, but so is the compensation for surviving victims.

[Abdul Nasif, President, Organization for Bhopal Gas Victims]: (male, Hindi)
"Even after 25 years of the gas leak, the victims are the living dead. They are suffering from various ailments. They are not getting any treatment. The government has not given them any compensation yet. All of them should be given compensation; ...”