‘Why does government want to throw leprosy patients back on the streets?’
Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras has objected to the recent Cabinet decision to take back most of the land that was given to the Sumanahalli Society, a leprosy care centre where nearly 365 people reside.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, he said the Cabinet had recently decided to take back 45 acres that is with the society, leaving only five acres for the society’s use. “This decision has hurt us deeply. The archdiocese has been utilising the land to take care of leprosy patients and other destitute people in the city for the past 36 years,” he said.
Terming the decision as an “infringement of the rights of the Christian minority community,” Archbishop Moras said the archdiocese had put in a lot of effort to treat leprosy patients with compassion and dignity, besides rehabilitating them. The archdiocese spends around Rs. 4 crore a year on maintaining the society and creating new facilities.
He said in 1977, the then Chief Minister Devaraj Urs had invited the archbishop of Bangalore to take care of leprosy patients and offered 63 acres of land on a 30-year lease for their treatment and rehabilitation. “The lease period ended in 2007. However, since 2001, we were in touch with every Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and other government officials, requesting them to extend the lease. Though all had assured us of looking into the matter, the recent Cabinet decision has come out of the blue. Why does the government want to throw 100 leprosy patients back on the streets?” he said.
Facilities on land
Father George Kannanthanam, director of Sumanahalli Society, said that 14 acres and 19 guntas of land were given away when the government wanted to develop the Ring Road. “We have used the remaining land to create facilities at a cost of over Rs. 25 crore. There are more than 50 buildings on the campus which are used for various activities, including medical care, institutional care, education, vocational training, job placement, among others.” He said the society has retained focus on leprosy and has developed several programmes to provide residential care and rehabilitation programmes for other destitute groups in society as provided in the lease agreement. While there are 120 leprosy patients, there are 35 HIV, 20 disabled, 40 street children under the care of BOSCO and 40 juvenile delinquents under the ECHO programme at the society.
‘Five acres too little’
“There is no way our activities can be restricted to five acres of land. The government must reconsider its decision and extend the lease to the society,” he said.
Archbishop Moras said that the archdiocese would submit a memorandum to Governor H.R. Bhardwaj urging him to direct the government and Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to reconsider its decision. “We are also exploring other legal options. We are not fighting for ourselves. We are fighting for the patients for whom Sumanahalli is a home,” he added.
“It is unfortunate that the Cabinet has taken such a decision even when the society enjoys the support of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, Karnataka Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and the Governor,” he said.
Suresh Kumar, president of the Karnataka Leprosy Affected People’s Welfare Association, spoke.
63 acres to take care of 365 patients? I think the government made a good decision.
It is depressing note the action taken by Karnataka government to throw out leprosy patoents Hiv patients etc from the society land.The lease has to be extended considering the services rendered and also the amount of development taken place thereat.
Good sense should prevail up on the BJP government.
From the news what I get is
There is no case of violation of minority rights here.
This land is leased, and while constructing in the area the Diocese
should have thought that they might lose it after lease period.
The land price of 40 acres in the heart of the city also needs
consideration.
Christian institutions have received huge land allocations during
European rule in key places through out India, which was never taken
back. Education and medical care is already significantly controlled
by Church due to promotions they received then and many of those
institutions are highly profit making, employing most of those
Christian people who may not get employment and otherwise, providing
centuries of socio economic edge. Now, there is no need for any more
government support for them.
Leporacy needs attention still, though it has significantly reduced
because of invention of treatment. Patients still need help. But,
things has to change with changing needs.
Only such inhuman decisions can be the outcome of a legislature, some members representing which do not hesitate to carry out immoral activities sitting inside it. The services rendered by Sumanahalli society are godly and essential. I hope that saner elements will prevail, and the government would revoke its present decision in the matter and not only extend the lease of the land for many more years, but allot extra land to the society to expand its present activities.
This is BJP rule for you.
The Society has blundered in taking things for granted when the original lease period had expired in 2007 itself. And by any stretch of imagination, it is not necessary to have 50 acres of prime land to house just about 200 persons. 5 acres of land is more than enough.
Shame on karnataka's govt. It wouldnt have dared to take back the land if it had belonged to any Hindu trust.
The land is being used for good purpose and the decision taken by the Govt should be withdrawn.
its notable the work done by this society, but they havent used 1/10th of the land provided to them in the last 35 years... why do thye need the extra land if they dont use it... why not the govt use it for some developemnt purpose.....
The govt will take back the land and it will end up in the hands of
corrupt politicians - that's how the story ends in India
I've personally witnessed the good work that these organisations do,
it is the kind of work that the government refuses to do and simply
cannot do. In fact the government blatantly refuses to acknowledge
that leprosy exists in India which is shocking, because you simply
have to visit these shelters to witness first hand the existence of
leprosy in India. If the government cannot provide shelters and
support for goodness sake at least these genuine organisations take
care. Indians abandon the lepers, the handicapped, the girls etc and
when someone tries to care for them they prevent that.
Sumanahalli is the home for the unwanted, untouchable and uncared leprosy patients,HIV patients and many destitutes.Wellrun and well organized,the society serves all irrespective of caste, religion and economic status.The delay in extending lease to such societies is against all principles of Gandhian principles of care to unwanted and to bring relief to the unfortunate .Activities of the society can be socially audited.The society is doing a function which a responsible government machinery is unable to undertake.
Karnataka Govt should reconsider the decision.
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