Lepers still feel outcast, discriminated

Anurag Sharma

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Over 60 years after Mahatma Gandhi strove to end the stigma attached to leprosy, those affected by this contagious but curable disease say they continue to face discrimination, even from doctors who examine them.

Also, the stigma attached to leprosy still prevents those afflicted from resuming a normal life even after the disease is cured, they add.

"Forget common people, even doctors who examine is fear the spread of the disease," says Subhramanium B, a leprosy patient living in Seelampur area of the capital which houses 30 leper colonies with a population between 10,000- 12,000.

"The colonies are meant for leprosy patients and their families. But most of the women and men do not reveal their condition at their workplaces for fear of getting sacked," says Subhramanium.

Girdhari Lal, President, Society for the Leprosy Patients Union (Seelampur), says only 1350 people get the stipulated monthly government stipend of Rs 1,000 while the remaining work or beg to earn a livelihood.

"The Delhi CM has announced increase in the stipend amount to leprosy affected patients to Rs 1800 but that is not enough," he says.

The Delhi government had recently announced a hike in the monthly stipend for leprosy patients along with several new initiatives to help those affected get a livelihood. PTI