On the 11th of September 2024, the State Committee of APAL in Odisha conducted a significant visit to all leprosy colonies in the Balangir district. The team, led by Mr. Prabhakar Sahoo, Executive Member of APAL, India, Mrs. Jayanti Pradhan, Secretary of APAL’s State Committee Odisha, Mrs. Banita, and Mr. Lokanath Lenka, Member of the State Committee Odisha, engaged with individuals affected by leprosy to discuss the various challenges and issues they encounter in their daily lives. The visit aimed to address the residents’ needs, understand their living conditions, and advocate for their rights and welfare.
At Sudpada Adarsh Leprosy Colony, residents emphasized pressing issues such as the proliferation of mosquitoes due to stagnant rainwater, which could not be drained because of inadequate drainage facilities. Furthermore, they raised concerns about the lack of proper land titles (land patta), leaving many families without legal ownership of the land they inhabit, exacerbating their sense of insecurity and instability.
In Narayan Colony, Balangir, the team encountered numerous issues. The residents urgently require land pattas, as well as the construction of a new community hall and pucca houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. The community also expressed the need for better sanitation facilities, including the construction of a community toilet. Additionally, they reported that children from the colony are not receiving scholarships under the Sahaya Schemes or the Umbrella Schemes provided by the Odisha Government, limiting their educational opportunities and support.
At Gaintala Colony in Girigobardhanpur, Balangir, which houses 85 individuals across 35 families, 25 out of 33 eligible families have already received land pattas; however, some families are still without legal titles. The president of the colony, Mr. Bighnaraj Rout, along with other residents, voiced concerns about the need for further land patta allocation, the construction of pucca houses, and an improved water supply. Additionally, the community lacks adequate Medical Care and Rehabilitation (MCR) footwear, and they face a dire need for dressing and ulcer care kits. Similar to the other colonies, the children in Gaintala Colony are also facing issues with accessing scholarships.
The visit by APAL’s Odisha state committee underscored the urgent need for governmental intervention to address the basic living conditions and welfare of people affected by leprosy in Balangir district. The delegation promised to follow up on these issues and advocate for solutions that would help improve the lives of these marginalized communities.
