On 26th August 2023, APAL had the opportunity to meet with Mr Sanjay Pandey, Joint Secretary Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, at the Nirman Bhawan, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in Delhi. Along with the Sasakawa Health Foundation team, we discussed the urgent need to appeal against laws that impact persons affected by leprosy in India.
It’s unfortunate that there is still a stigma surrounding Leprosy and societal discrimination towards persons affected by leprosy. Discriminatory provisions in over 100 Central and State Acts and Rules unfairly label Leprosy as a “loathsome” and “dangerous” disease, which prevents those who have been cured from pursuing certain professions and even using local transportation. It’s unacceptable that these laws also prevent people from contesting in elections and holding positions of authority in universities. We need to raise awareness about these discriminatory laws and their impact on those affected by Leprosy and work towards amending or repealing them. It’s important to sensitize duty bearers on the causes and contagiousness of Leprosy and discuss ways to amend or repeal these laws to create a fair and just society for all.
The discriminative laws have caused many to face segregation from their families and society, as well as stigma and discrimination. Additionally, they have been denied access to education and employment opportunities. It was a productive meeting, and we hope that our efforts will lead to positive change for fellow people affected by leprosy in India.
APAL wanted to express our gratitude to Dr. Takahiro Nanri, CEO of SHF, Dr. Rashmi Shukla from NPO (Leprosy) WHO India, Dr. Ranghanadh Rao, Ms. Mao Hasebe Program Officer, Mrs. Maya Ranavare, President of APAL, Mrs. Nikita Sarah Head – Advocacy & Communication of TLMTI and Mr. Prakash Done, Treasurer of APAL. They all participated and contributed to the efforts of APAL.
