On August 25, 2024, the President of APAL, Maya Ranavare, alongside the management of APAL’s State Committee, held a meeting with the Governor of Odisha, Mr. Raghubar Das, at his office. During the meeting, a memorandum was presented to address a critical issue pertaining to the state’s disability pension policy.
Currently, the disability pension of 3,500 rupees is exclusively provided to individuals affected by leprosy who are over 80 years old. This policy has led to the exclusion of many individuals residing in leprosy colonies, enduring significant disabilities and challenging living conditions, who do not meet the age criteria for financial assistance. These individuals, in urgent need of support, are currently deprived of essential resources for sustainable living.
APAL respectfully appealed to the Governor to consider extending the disability pension to all individuals affected by leprosy, regardless of age, by recognizing a 40% disability certificate as the eligibility criterion. This adjustment aims to address the significant gap in the current policy and ensure that pension benefits reach those most in need, thereby providing these individuals with the means to live with dignity and security. Furthermore, the delegation raised awareness of critical land issues faced by many in the leprosy-affected community, residing in unsafe and uninhabitable housing. They urged the Governor’s intervention to address these urgent housing and land concerns, guaranteeing safe and stable living conditions for the vulnerable individuals.
The meeting was attended by Maya Ranavare (President of APAL), Jawahar Ram Paswan (Vice President of APAL), Prabhakar Sahoo (Executive Member of APAL), Biswanadh Sahoo (APAL’s State Coordinator in Odisha), and other key members. APAL expressed profound gratitude to the Governor for his positive response and the warm hospitality extended during their visit. APAL remains optimistic that these critical issues will be addressed to enhance the lives of those affected by leprosy in Odisha.
