The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Plea to enhance aid to leprosy-disabled persons

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 22, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Plea to enhance aid to leprosy-disabled persons

Special Correspondent

Court orders notice to Central and State Governments "Governments have not offered adequate assistance for rehabilitation"

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered notices to the State and Central Governments on a public interest litigation petition, seeking enhancement of financial assistance to the leprosy-disabled persons.

A Division Bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar also directed the authorities to submit a report stating whether they had any scheme or plan for comprehensive rehabilitation and welfare of the leprosy-affected. The authorities are to submit their reply within four weeks.

"Shunned by all"

The direction was given on a petition filed by R. Monikumar, who works for emancipation and betterment of the leprosy disabled persons. He said though there were 1.1 million persons affected by leprosy, the State and Central Governments did not offer adequate financial package for their rehabilitation.

Explaining the "peculiar and pathetic" situation of the affected, he said though they were willing to do any work, they were not engaged by individuals or companies. Though they also enjoyed equal right in the eye of law, they were deprived of their rights. "It is the primary duty of the governments to look after the welfare of the leprosy-disabled persons."

Mr. Monikumar said that in the absence of sufficient financial aid from the governments, these people made a living through begging.

His representation to various authorities to enhance the assistance to the totally leprosy-disabled persons to Rs. 2,000 and to Rs. 1,000 to the partly affected persons had not evoked any response. "Unless the court intervenes ... , the Governments will not take any action to emancipate the leprosy-disabled persons from their social, economic and physical disabilities and sufferings."

Programmes sought

Besides seeking a direction to the authorities to strive to eradicate leprosy at the earliest through rapid eradication programmes, the petitioner sought enhancement of the financial assistance subject to the beneficiaries furnishing disability certificates.

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