Law Commission Submits Report to Eliminate Discrimination Against Leprosy Patients

The draft bill focuses on non-discrimination, social inclusion and equal protection before the law for anyone affected by leprosy or members of their family.

Leprosy is an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the extremities. Although it may cause irreversible disabilities, with medical advances, it is now a completely curable disease. However, incomplete understanding and knowledge about the disease often leads to social stigma and discrimination, and many persons affected by leprosy continue to be outcast from society. Another problem that India faces is the laws, which continue to directly and indirectly discriminate against persons affected by leprosy. The Law Commission of India has submitted a report to the government to eliminate discrimination against leprosy victims.

The Law Commission has prepared a model draft legislation, titled ’Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy (EDPAL) Bill, 2015’. This draft law contains principles of non-discrimination and equal protection before law that must be guaranteed to everyone affected by leprosy or members of their family. It also seeks to promote the social inclusion of leprosy afflicted persons and their family members through affirmative action. The key aspects of the draft law include-

Leprosy / Hansen's Disease - History
Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects any organ like skin, eyes, mucosa, periphery nerves or any other organ. It can cause irreversible disfigurement of the extremities and nerve damage.

1. Repeal and amendment of certain laws- Besides the repeal of the Lepers Act, 1898, the Law Commission recommends the repeal of discriminatory provisions in various other personal laws. It recommends including persons affected by leprosy among the list of persons eligible for legal aid under the Legal Services Act, 1987.

2. Measures against discrimination- The Law Commission recommends that people affected by leprosy and their family members must not be discriminated against in any institution. It also guarantees to such persons the right to access healthcare, adequate housing, education, employment and other basic amenities.

3. Land Rights- People affected by leprosy are usually made to relocate to ’Leprosy Colonies’ in India, but they do not have land rights, and are constantly under the fear of eviction. The Law Commission recommends that title and ownership of property in leprosy colonies should be legalized, and if land rights cannot be given, alternative settlement options must be explored.

World Leprosy Day 2015
World Leprosy Day (WLD) is observed on the last Sunday of January each year. This year it is Sunday, 25th January 2015.

4. Right to Employment- Many employers misuse existing employment laws to terminate services of people who are diagnosed with leprosy. The draft law prohibits the termination of employment of people solely due to their association with leprosy.

5. Educational and training opportunities- The Law Commission recommends that the draft law should ensure the admission of individuals affected by leprosy and their family members in schools, colleges and other institutes, as educational qualifications are necessary to allow them access to employment opportunities.

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President Pranab Mukherjee extended his best wishes to the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh (Indian Leprosy Association) on Thursday, on the occasion of Anti-Leprosy Day being held on January 30, 2015.

6. Appropriate use of Language- The use of the term ’leper’ and similar terms carries negative connotation, hampers efforts for the inclusion of people affected by leprosy into society, and affects their sense of dignity as human beings. The Law Commission recommends that the term ’leper’ and other such terms in all government and private documents should be replaced with ’persons affected by leprosy’ or some other similar term.

7. Right to Freedom of Movement- The draft law ensures that persons affected by leprosy are guaranteed the right of travel in public transport and also the right to obtain a driving license.

Social Stigma Stalks India's Leprosy Patients as Disease Returns
India declared itself to be leprosy-free in 2005 and became complacent in combating this disease. Since 2013-14, there have been 126,913 new leprosy cases including 12,043 children.

8. Concessions during treatment- The draft law seeks to provide relevant concessions and monetary benefits to persons undergoing treatment for leprosy, for their travel, lodging during treatment and medicines.

9. Social Awareness- Creating awareness regarding the cure and transmission of leprosy is the best way to address the discrimination and social stigma associated with it. The Law Commission recommends that awareness about the disease, its treatment and curability should be conducted through campaigns and programs in schools, hospitals, government institutions and private establishments.

10. Welfare Measures- The draft law imposes specific duties upon establishments to execute welfare measures to foster an environment for financial and social growth of persons affected by leprosy and their families. It also creates Central and State Commissions to strictly enforce these measures, and provides for accountability measures in case of non-enforcement.

Source-Medindia