Community welfare centre for the new victims of Bhopal gas tragedy

Abstract

The world’s worst man—made disaster hit Bhopal on the 3rd of December in1984. 42 tons of methyl isocyanate gas leaked out of the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant affecting about 500,000 people, the consequences of which are being faced till date. People continue to live by the high compound walls and the barbed wires of the dilapidated factory, in an extremely dangerous environment and very limited facilities. However, the needs of these people have changed through the years as they live through the aftermath of the disaster. My thesis draws its proposition from the current problems faced by the surviving community of the Bhopal gas tragedy and their families and is an attempt to spatially manifest a holistic and comprehensive solution in the form of a community center, where people get the recognition and the facilities they deserve, and awareness is spread about the impact the gas tragedy has had over the survivors through the years. Community participation is encouraged at all stages of creating community spaces that would enable recovery, rehabilitation, equitable distribution of resources and generate employment and education opportunities.