The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Chief Secretary to sort out the plight of 40 leprosy patients residing at Dipal Nagar in the Kukudakhandi area in Ganjam district.
The commission directed the Chief Secretary to submit a report in the matter within eight weeks. The apex human rights watchdog passed the order while monitoring a case filed by rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
“Forty leprosy patients are staying in Dipal Nagar and almost all of them have been begging for survival. There is only one dressing room in the colony, which lies defunct due to non appointment of a doctor and a pharmacist,” Tripathy contended.
“They are deprived of safe drinking water and many welfare schemes and negligence of the State Government towards their care has been the main cause behind their human rights violation,” Tripathy alleged.
The NHRC after receiving a report from the Ganjam CDMO and other reports in the matter from the State Government officials, directed the Kukudakhandi CHC in-charge to conduct health camps in the Depaul Nagar Colony twice a month and directed the MPHS (M&F) and MPHW (M&F) of the locality to supervise the health activities at least once in a week.
The commission also directed to ensue either functioning of two defunct tube wells or install new ones in the locality. The petitioner had requested the commission to send its Special Rapporteur to visit the spot to assess the situation and submit a detailed report.
He also urged the commission to direct the State to immediately ensure proper medical treatment to the patients free of cost and continue the same at appropriate intervals, besides ensuring basic minimum facilities.