SOCIETY

Durgapur dumps lepers in isolated colony

     Durgapur: Over 300 lepers and their children, quarantined in an isolated, obscure colony in West Bengal are fighting for survival in a society, which shuns and reviles them. The colony, on the outskirts of Durgapur, a bustling industrial hub 168 km north of Kolkatta, was built by the regional municipal corporation to provide lepers a common platform to share medical and emotional support. But far from being the haven of relief the mini township has become perhaps what is the most hated locality in the region. The social segregation is rigid. No outsider ever goes anywhere near it and those from here are refused entry into markets, community festivals and fairs. Even those who have been fully cured remain unwelcome. Left with huge, ugly scars or crippled hands or legs the men and women, face extreme hatred from employers-none have been able to find employment and survive by begging on the streets. Everyday they limp long distances to beg, where they are often mistreated and shown disgust. "People don't behave well with us. When we go begging they tell us to stay out, don't come near us. They are disgusted with us. They fear and hate our disease," Sitala Roy, a leprosy victim, said. Even their children have not been spared the social stigma. Though completely healthy, their battle begins right from the childhood. The leper's colony has one only one state-run primary school, which runs classes up to fifth standard and after that the children are forced to drop out as none of the regular schools take them in. The few lucky ones, who managed to get higher education, fail to find jobs and are forced to live in extreme penury. "We have no work. We are not allowed to work in any offices because we are children of lepers. No one allows us to work," said Lal Mahato, an unemployed graduate, whose parents are leprosy victims. Authorities have roped in voluntary organisations to give vocational training, farming and other skills for the patients. "We have no such programme. We have not initiated such a programme. But some NGOs have initiated such programmes in which they train the cured patients. They train them in various things such as teaching. This way they can earn for their families," Rahin Roy, the city mayor said.
-Jan 1, 2005

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