HC seeks report on steps taken to eradicate leprosy within 15 days

Cuttack: The Orissa high court on Friday directed the state government “to give a report within 15 days on steps taken to eradicate leprosy. The HC issued the direction while expressing concern that “leprosy-affected as well as leprosy-cured persons of the state are not being taken care of properly”.The two-judge bench of acting Chief Justice BR Sarangi and Justice MS Raman said, “This court is concerned about the leprosy-affected persons and the persons who require immediate medical help for their survival. Every human life is important for the court. Therefore, this court is concerned about the betterment of the leprosy affected-persons and leprosy-cured persons.”Accordingly, the HC directed the secretary, social security & empowerment of persons with disabilities (SS&EPD) department, Bishnupada Sethi, to indicate in the report the steps the government has taken for providing medical aid to the leprosy-affected persons and also to rehabilitate those persons by providing adequate shelter.The bench said: “The report by way of an affidavit shall also indicate as to whether the basic requirements, such as, food, shelter and clothing as well as medical facilities and other basic amenities have been provided to such persons or not.”“What steps have been already taken and what steps they (government) are proposing to take, shall also be indicated. The affidavit should be in a pin-pointed manner The steps which they are proposing to take should be in a time-bound manner,” it added. The HC was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the state authorities for effective implementation of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). Bipin Bihari Pradhan, general secretary, State Leprosy Welfare Federation, filed the petition way back in 2015. The HC had appointed a committee of amici curiae consisting of advocates Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, Gautam Mishra, and Pami Rath.The bench said reports furnished by the committee “revealed that there is deficiency in service from all corners to the leprosy-affected persons, those who remain in colonies”.“As such, no remedial measures are being taken by the state and even if taken, they are not adequate for their survival. So far as providing medical facilities to the leprosy affected persons is concerned, the same is of pitiable condition. It has been brought to the notice of the Court that though a set of persons have been appointed by the Government to look after their health conditions, but actually nobody is going there to look after them,” the Bench observed.“The secretary SS&EPD department, being the convener, should regulate the system of eradicating leprosy from the state and also provide adequate medical facilities to the persons affected with leprosy,” the HC said.
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