Bhopal Gas Tragedy: Lessons for corporate social responsibility

Abstract

The Supreme Court order dated July 19,2004, ordering relief for Bhopal gas victims is a case of the long arm of justice 20 years after the event. The leakage of a poisonous gas, Methyl Isocynate (MIC) from the pesticide plant of Union Carbide India Ltd, Bhopal, on December 3, 1984,resulted in a loss of 10,000 lives and permanently disabled nearly 50,000 people. This tragedy raises some serious corporate social responsibility issues to be addressed by manufacturing Companies, in their responsibility towards the community and environment. This Case examines the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and explains what happened and why: The economic, legal and environmental aspects and addresses the wider issues facing the stakeholders and the players.