Over 800 students from various Christian organisations held a peaceful rally on Richmond Road to protest the government’s indecision in renewing the lease granted to the society.
Students took up the cause of the Summanahalli Society for the welfare and rehabilitation of leprosy patients, located off Magadi Road. Over 800 students from various Christian organisations held a peaceful rally on Richmond Road to protest the government’s indecision in renewing the lease granted to the society.
“Where will they go?,” said Anthony Peter Sylvester, a protester. “They have been there for the last 30 years and treated as outcasts. There is someone there looking after the afflicted. They are not just treating them, but rehabilitating them, too. What does the government want with the land? What are they going to get by kicking out these people, when they know that there is nowhere else they can go?” he said.
“These people were put there by the government in the first place, because they wanted to remove leprosy patients off the streets of urban Bangalore. Now, they are refusing to renew the lease. We want to know why,” he added.
Placards made by the students suggested the same. “It’s okay not to gift something. But don’t gift it and then take it back,” read one poster.
Prashanth Kumar, state coordinator of All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF), said: “Representatives of each organisation visited the Summanahalli Society. We saw what a wonderful job they were doing. We were moved by how people who had to beg on the streets, considered outcasts and even stigmatised, were taken in by these people. Not only were they given medical attention, but a home and a means of living. Instead of shutting the place down, shouldn’t we be setting up more of these centres?”
Fr Brian Pereira, state advisor, AICUF, asserted that this is not going to be a one-time campaign. “These students believe in the cause and want to do something. Tomorrow, we will be sending students in batches to visit the Summanahalli Society and see the work being done there,” he said.
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