Recalling the services rendered by Mahatma Gandhi to the leprosy victims, district Collector M. Ravi Chandra on Sunday said efforts were on to construct houses to the leprosy patients in the district, who were residing in 17 colonies, with the help of the Japan-based service organisation.
Addressing a programme organised to mark Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary and Leprosy Eradication Day, Mr. Ravi Chandra said leprosy eradication programmes were launched in the district way back in 1987 and the present percentage of patients was one case for every 20,000 population.
He said 3,483 white ration cards and 721 Antyodaya cards were distributed to the leprosy patients in the district so far.
City MLA D. Chandrasekhar Reddy said house sites were distributed to the patients in the district and only 16 patients were yet to get the sites.
He said efforts were on to distribute pensions from the government to the patients.
Joint Collector K. Sasidhar, additional district medical and health officer M. Pavan Kumar, Municipal Commissioner G.S.N. Murthy and others were present.
