With no end to discrimination against leprosy-affected people in the society despite an effective cure being available, a group of civil society organisations working for the welfare of the sector under United4Change has issued an online petition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking early passage of a Bill that aims to eliminate obsolete laws, which violate their rights.
The petition, which seeks to get 50,000 signatures, appeals to the Prime Minister to ensure passage of the Eliminating Discrimination Against People Affected by leprosy (EDPAl) Bill 2015 in the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
The EDPAl seeks to scrap many obsolete laws, including an 1898 Act which discriminates against leprosy affected people. In a bid to draw the attention of the Prime Minister to the plight of the community, the petition hosted on website change.org says, “there are 14 laws that discriminate against people affected by leprosy leaving them with no option but to beg for a livelihood.
“These laws are also used to file for divorce, bar affected persons from contesting elections, charging higher life insurance premium and not allowing them to travel in trains, obtaining driving licences, etc. people affected by leprosy are sometimes thrown off the land on which they live. They are often sacked from their jobs and their children prevented from going to school.”
These must be scrapped so that the dignity and human rights of the people afflicted with the disease is protected. “The government has taken the first step (by framing the Bill); it is up to us to ensure that this culminates in this passing of the EDPAl quickly…,” said Vineeta Shanker from Sasakawa India leprosy Foundation.
Voting for the petition, V Narsappa, President APAl who is himself afflicted with leprosy suggested that leprosy should be taught as a subject at school level to the children so that it influences their behaviour to help to reduce disability, stigma and discrimination.
“Key to fighting the prejudice associated with the disease are archaic laws which discriminate against people affected by leprosy. This is against the tenants of our Constitution that guarantee an equal life for of India’s citizens with complete justice,” said Ashim Chowla from lEPRA Society.