Leprosy
mailing list – June 21st, 2006
Ref.: <<Beggars
to get 3 yr workhouse>>
From: Narasima
Rao P., Hyderabad, India
Ccn: all.
Dear Dr. Noto,
I am from Andhra Pradesh, India and hope I
can be of some help. (I refer to Dr Soldenhoff’s message: LML June
13th, 2006)
Begging is one of the oldest professions
(second oldest?!) in India and the world. People effected by leprosy
deformities form a special category among them and attract lot of
attention and receive lot of alms from people/donors.
However, it should be fair to state that
begging by leprosy effected people is on decline as the severe
deformities have decreased and also due to increased economy of India. However, begging is a major
problem/event during fairs, melas and at places of worship
where people want to wash away their sins by paying the poor.
As can be read in the news item, the law
is in existence from the year 1977.
Periodically, courts bring these issues into attention due to
some public interest litigations.
You must have also read that there are just 14 rehab homes in
whole of Andhra Pradesh which has a population of about 80 million and
at best these homes are notional in nature. Personally, I
feel that
these statements should not be taken seriously at all.
Interestingly most of these leprosy
patients are "burnt out - treated cases" with residual
deformities and not infectious at all. However, they still attract
lot of attention from common people and authorities.
With best regards,
P. Narasimha Rao
