The Joint Action Committee of All leprosy Organisations, Odisha discussed various issues like social security of leprosy-affected persons, the Government’s negligence towards them and violation of their human rights at a meeting held here recently.
The members said that the State Government is spending crores of rupees by way of different schemes like Ama Gaon, Ama Vikash for poor people but has not done anything for leprosy community during the last 18 years.
Association VP Pradeep Pradhan said though various organisations working for welfare of leprosy-affected people have written to the Governor, Chief Minister, Health Minister, Chief Secretary and concerned department officials and to the Central Government umpteen times, none of them has risen to resolve their problems yet.
The association decided to submit a memorandum to the State Government again for fulfillment of their demands.
The demands include monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to each leprosy affected person, provision of employment and free education to their wards, filling up trained leprosy workers under the National leprosy Eradication Programme (NlEP) and all vacant posts of doctors and nurses in the 14 leprosy hospitals and 3 leprosy homes operating in the State.
The association threatened that they would stage an indefinite stir in front of the State Assembly if their demands are not fulfiled within 10 days.
They also threatened that about 10 lakh leprosy families would boycott the upcoming general elections if demands are not met.