Leprosy
mailing list – November 25th, 2005
Ccn: all.
From:
R Ganapati, Mumbai, India.
Dear Dr Noto,
I write this as a life member and the Past President of the
prestigious Indian Association
of Leprologists (IAL),
which holds its biennial conferences, for which all members (about 600
to 700) are invited. Workshops, seminars, symposia on selected topics
periodically for which only selected members (and sometimes non-
members) who are experts in the specific subjects are invited, though
participation is open to all members.
The proceedings of all meetings are published in the official
organ of IAL viz Indian Journal of Leprosy. This quarterly journal is
published by arrangement with the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh a Delhi-
based voluntary organization.
The office of the Association generally changes every two
years after a democratically conducted election at the biennial
conference. This leads to logistic problems. The Association
functions under severe financial constraints. In my long experience,
the office bearers try to solve the grievances of the type Dr Salafia
has raised (LML Nov. 14th 2005). To the best of my knowledge
suitable explanation is given to the individual member concerned and
the problems are amicably solved.
I am surprised that an international medium of LML is used
for bringing out a purely internal problem concerning policies and
local logistics in the Indian context. All grievances and
suggestions could have been brought to the knowledge of the office
bearers by correspondence, telephone, e-mail etc. or pursued at the
general body meeting. I understand that the conference information was
available in the website too.
I only hope that the readers of LML will not carry any wrong
impression about the management of IAL. This body justifiably boasts
of a rich academic heritage and is one of the most highly recognized
scientific bodies disseminating knowledge round the globe over five
decades and functions in a most democratic manner.
Yours faithfully,
R Ganapati
Dr.
R. Ganapati
Director:
Bombay
Leprosy Project
Chairman:
Hind
Kusht Nivaran Sangh, Maharashtra Branch
Vice-President:
Society
for the Eradication of Leprosy
Acworth Leprosy Hospital Society for Research Rehabilitation and
Education in Leprosy
Member:
WHO
Expert Advisory Panel on Leprosy (1991-2000)
Maharashtra State Leprosy Society.
