NEWS & EVENTS

In the state of Andhra Pradesh the state leader associated with the state Government distributed vegetables and medicine, dressing materials to people affected by leprosy in the Srikakulam, Narasannapeta and Amudalavalasa

Mr. V. Narsappa visited Yadagiri state colonies Karnataka state on 1^st March 20. The colony leader Mr. Parasuram and other colony inmates met Mr. Narsappa and requested to salve the problem which colony people facing.

The colony people are facing Land and house issues, enhanced pension and Disability certificates, and basic amendments. Mr. Narsappa has explained the APAL activities and objectives. He assured that APAL will take certain action and solve the problem.

State of Tamil Nadu, state leader Mr. A. Prakasam with his hard efforts received corona relief kits from the Rotary club, the Lion club Rising Star Outreach, and other donors.

• Rising Star Outreach has sponsored food grains and distributed to 200 families all over Tamil Nadu leprosy colonies and cash Rs.1000/- each family.  
• Mrs. Padma Venkataraman from her India Mahila Sangam sponsored Vegetables to Villivakkam  Balarampuram colony for 40 families and Rs 1,000/- per family.
• Rotary Club Dr. Renuka sponsored food grains to 40 families at Villivakkam Balarampuram Leprosy Colony.
• Ms.Lalitha –Marvadi sponsored Rs 11,000 to every 45 colonies in Tamil Nadu. The colony leaders asked to buy all vegetables Rice, Dal Ration Materials and submit the bills to Donor through the state leader. This is a routine donation to colonies every quarter.
• Ms.Seetha – Secretary of Street Vision sponsoring daily lunch for  150 families in 90 days up to June 2020. 

• Local Individuals Sponsored food grains to 200 families in other leprosy colonies near Chennai.

The Bihar State leader Mr. Someswara Dubay and the president of Samutthan met DM on 31 March and they have explained the issues of colony people are facing during the Corona LockDown period  Mr. Someswar Dubay and Muaffepur, Mootihari, Samastipur, and colony leaders are also in the meeting and submitting memorandum to DM. The DM arranged all things of pockets are Vegetables, 5 kg Rice, 3kg Dal, 3 pocket oil and ration things to 30 families in each colony of Muffzapur, Mototihari, Samastipur colonies

Ms. Maya Ranavare-Treasurer of APAL participated in the Women’s day celebration program on 18^th March 20 at Trombe Leprosy Colony Mumbai.  The Local ward counselor and   50 women are participated in the women’s day celebration program. They honored the best social workers in the leprosy colony.

The state leader Mr. Rasul Mulla with state committee members with hard efforts get Vegetables and ration through Member of Parliament Kalyan, Maharashtra.  The Vegetables and Ration were distributed in Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath

A joint enhancing relationship between the disability movement and the People Affected by Leprosy seminar was organized by APAL and DPI on 13-02-20 at U S I, New Delhi. 40 people affected by leprosy from Delhi and Haryana & 8 people from the disability movement participated in the seminar.

Mr. Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP delivered a welcome address, and Dr. Vineeta Shankar, Executive Director SILF has presented an overview of Leprosy. Mr. Venu Gopal – Vice President APAL & Mr. Uday Thakar- Advisor APAL addressed the seminar on Leprosy and APAL activities.After a self-introduction by participants, Mr. S. N. Tyagi and Mr. Girdhari Lal explained the present status of Leprosy Affected People in Haryana and Delhi. Mr. Rajiv Rathuri informed about RPWD Act and benefits for people affected by leprosy. Mr. Dhawani Mehta, Vidhi Centre for legal policy explained about legislative framework around Leprosy.

Ms. Nikita Sara, TLM informed about livelihood and employment opportunities for people affected by leprosy. Mr. Pankaj Sinha explained the Supreme Court’s directions for the empowerment of Leprosy Affected People. Finally, discussions took place on the action plan and the seminar concluded. After over meeting Mr. Venu Gopal –Vice President and Mr. Uday Thakar went to Mr. A K Sahoo – Additional Secretary Rajya Sabha at his office. Had discussions about the EDPAL bill and further action to introduce in Parliament. He gave suggestions and assured his cooperation from Law Ministry.

Mrs. Nevis Mary- Joint Secretary APAL visited Balaramapuram Villivakkam, leprosy colony, and also attended the colony leaders meeting at Villivakkam, Chennai on 12 February 2020.

Mr. Prakaasam – State Leader has arranged colony leaders meeting at Villivakkam, Chennai. The Colony leaders from Kumbakonam, Ulunthurpet, Chengalpat, Sever, SP Koil, Venkatapuram, Thiruthani, Dharmapuri, and Villivakkam have attended the meeting.

The Rising Star outreach India team has also participated in the meeting. Mr. Prakasam recommended the request of Sevur colony for the construction of 4 toilets.  Kumbakonam leader reported that renewal of railway concession, ID card was refused by Railway department. The reason was leprosy is not on the railway’s disability list. Xerox copies of the application and ID card were received for further process. It was good to be with all.

Due to loss of sensation the People Affected by Leprosy get ulcer wounds in their hands and feet. They require daily dressing of the ulcers to prevent bone infections and amputation of legs and fingers. To facilitate the ulcer suffering patients, Association of People Affected by Leprosy through its Madhya Pradesh State Committee Sahyog Kusht Nivaran Samiti has applied under the CSR scheme to Morya Saria Industries, Indore for sponsorship to set up 4 ulcer dressing units for the 250 ulcer suffering patients living in 11leprosy colonies existing in Indore district. On 5th, January 2020 Mr. Pawan Singhania, M. D. of Morya Saria inaugurated the first dressing unit at Arunodaya Leprosy Colony, Indore. Mr. Sarang, Secretary, APAL, State Committee members Mrs. Rekha, Mrs. Anita, Mr. Subhash Kumar, Mr.  Raju Rathore, and all Colony members were also presented in the opening ceremony.

Mr.Rasul Mulla State leader Maharashtra, Ms.Maya Ranevare- APAL Treasurer other Mumbai leprosy colony inmates met with Hon’ble Minority Minister and Foster Minister Mr.Navab Mallik had discus   problems of Leprosy colonies of Mumbai as well as overall Maharashtra on 14 February 20

Madhya Pradesh State Committee organized an awareness rally on the occasion of the Anti-Leprosy day celebration on 30^th January 2020 at Indore. The program started at 11:00 am by garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi and keeping silent for 2 minutes of his death anniversary.  After that, a mass rally was started from the Gandhi statue of Regal Share to the Manas Bhavan, Indore with slogans, cards, and banners to create awareness of misconceptions about leprosy.

APAL Secretary Mr. Sarang Gaydhane, Madhya Pradesh State Committee, Youth Forum, LEPRA Society, Deenbandhu Charitable Trust, District Leprosy Officer of Govt. Leprosy Department and all their staff, children of schools and colleges as well as people affected by leprosy and their children gave their support in this rally. In this way, more than 400 people took part in this rally. Mr. Sarang Gaydhane expressed his views on the trouble of leprosy-affected people and also made them aware of what is being done about leprosy in society. It has shown to society that the affected by leprosy is not a curse, do not hate it. After a vote of thanks, the breakfast was distributed to all participants.