The top court directed Centre and state governments to issue disability certificate to leprosy-affected people
Leprosy patients could be entitled to disability certificates that can help them get jobs and benefits under public welfare schemes for the first time. The suggestion came from the Supreme Court while it was hearing a PIL, and the top court ordered a slew of directions to states and Centre in order to end the stigma surrounding the disease and integrate the leprosy-affected community into the society's mainstream.
The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud in its order disposing the PIL by Pankaj Sinha said, "The Union government may consider framing separate rules for assessing the disability quotient of leprosy-affected persons for the purpose of issuing disability certificate in exercise of the power granted under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016."
If the Centre enacts this rule, the leprosy affected persons who suffer physical deformity will be entitled to get jobs, education and welfare benefits under government schemes.
The Court also directed the families of leprosy patients to be given BPL cards to ensure they have a regular supply of food. In addition, the Court made it mandatory for Centre and states to provide free treatment and medicines, and specially-designed MCR footwear free of cost to leprosy-affected patients. In addition, the Court also directed the respective Governments to create awareness on the disease being curable and to try include these aspects in school curriculum.
The PIL in the Supreme Court raised a concern as to how leprosy being a curable disease with a multi-drug therapy was still considered to be an incurable disease. Due to this, leprosy affected persons were shunted to the fringes of every urban and rural settlement and made to live a life of penury, insult and depravity.
The Court said that the awareness campaigns initiated by Government must inform that a person affected by leprosy is not required to be sent to any special clinic, hospital or sanatorium and should not be isolated from family members or the community. Further, the society must be informed that a person affected with leprosy can lead a "normal married life, can have children, can take part in social events and go to work or school as normal". Presently, leprosy day is internationally observed every year on the last Sunday of January.
END STIGMA TOO
- The top court directed Centre and state governments to issue disability certificate to leprosy-affected people.
- It also ordered for awareness campaigns on the disease.
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