Amte for residential commune for lepers

Mumbai: Some stigmas are so strong that no amount of awareness can overcome them, feels Vikas, son of social activist Baba Amte, as he plans to set up separate residential units for Leprosy patients, who are still looked down upon by the society.

"Baba Amte began his institution Maharogi Sewa Samiti (MSS) for leprosy patients 60 years ago in Anandwan and provided them with education and training so that they could be accepted by the society. The experiment was not fully successful as the society continues to remain indifferent to most them even today," Vikas Amte said.

There are nearly one crore people in India affected by Leprosy and even though the government has declared that most of them are not contagious, they are still not allowed inside a movie theatre or other public places, he said.

Hence, the need for a proper place to stay is constantly increasing in proportion to intra-disability and inter- disability marriages," Vikas said, adding an exclusive village for Lepers and the disabled would soon be set up.

Aptly christened 'Himmatgram', the village will serve as a residential commune for leprosy patients and physically challenged persons, he said.

"We wish to establish residential units for almost 500 people to provide them the right to fuller life by way of right to sexuality, companionship and parenthood," Vikas said.