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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India, China decide to resume Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI): India and China on Monday decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra as the two sides agreed to take certain people-centric steps to "stabilise and rebuild" ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said this following Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's talks with his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong in Beijing.
It said the two sides also agreed in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries.
"As agreed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at their meeting in Kazan in October, the two sides reviewed the state of India-China bilateral relations comprehensively and agreed to take certain people-centric steps to stabilize and rebuild ties," the MEA said.
"In this context, the two sides decided to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the summer of 2025," it said.
The MEA said the two sides also agreed to hold an early meeting of the India-China expert level mechanism to discuss resumption of provision of hydrological data and other cooperation pertaining to trans-border rivers.
It said the two sides agreed to take appropriate measures to further promote and facilitate people-to-people exchanges, including media and think-tank interactions.
"They agreed in principle to resume direct air services between the two countries; the relevant technical authorities on the two sides will meet and negotiate an updated framework for this purpose at an early date," the MEA said.
