750 leprosy colonies in India still remain segregated from mainstream society: Official
New Delhi, Jan 26 (PTI): There are still 750 leprosy colonies in India that remain segregated from mainstream society, S Govindaraj, the Commissioner at the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD), said on Sunday, emphasising the urgent need for collective efforts to break the stigma associated with leprosy.
Speaking at a virtual seminar on World Leprosy Day #, Govindaraj also addressed the legal challenges faced by individuals affected by the disease and urged comprehensive solutions to ensure their rights and dignity.
The seminar, organised by CCPD, brought together government officials, NGOs, medical experts, and advocates to address myths about leprosy and promote the inclusion of affected individuals.
Govindaj noted that 750 leprosy colonies in India remain segregated from mainstream society and called for collective efforts to end the discrimination associated with leprosy
Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), described "leprosy-related untouchability as worse than caste-based discrimination".
Sharing his experiences from three decades ago in a leprosy colony in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, he highlighted how even family members often alienate those afflicted with the disease.
Aggarwal called for legal reforms, early detection, and robust rehabilitation measures to combat this issue.
S Sivasubramaniam, a senior scientist, revealed that India accounts for 53 per cent of global leprosy cases, stressing the need for community-based rehabilitation.
Shivkumar, a leprosy expert, added that 125 districts in 14 states continue to report significant cases, with Chhattisgarh leading the tally with 24 districts.
Advocacy and communication expert Nikita Sarah emphasiWed that leprosy is one of the easiest diseases to cure if detected early but continues to face stigma due to ignorance.
"It is not a deformity or disability, but the lack of awareness perpetuates these misconceptions," she said.
The seminar also featured Dr P Narasimha Rao, President of the International Leprosy Association, who elaborated on the medical challenges of leprosy elimination.
He pointed out that the disease, while rare in most parts of the world, remains a concern in India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
Shabnam Khan, a leprosy survivor, shared her journey of overcoming societal rejection to become her family's first graduate and live an independent life, offering a message of hope and resilience.
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Rupee falls 9 paise to all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade
Mumbai (PTI): Rupee depreciated 9 paise to an all-time low of 90.58 against US dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over an India-US trade deal and persistent foreign fund outflows.
Forex traders said rupee is trading with a negative bias as investors are in wait and watch mode and awaiting cues from the India-US trade deal front.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 90.53 against the US dollar, then fell further to an all-time intraday low of 90.58 against the greenback, registering a fall of 9 paise over its previous close.
On Friday, the rupee had slipped 17 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.49 against the American currency.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.05 per cent lower at 98.35.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 0.52 per cent at USD 61.44 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, the 30-share benchmark index Sensex was trading 298.86 points lower at 84,968.80, while the Nifty was down 121.40 points at 25,925.55.
Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 1,114.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue to be in selling mode in equity and debt while RBI has been selling dollars to fund their long positions," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
