‘Plan for rehab of leprosy patients soon’

CM SPEAKS :Quantum of social security pension would be increased to R1,000 from R150  

An action plan would be chalked out for the socio-economic rehabilitation of leprosy patients in the state, said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Thursday. Chouhan said this in a meeting with goodwill ambassador and chairperson of the Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa. The CM said the quantum of social security pension to leprosy patients would be increased to R1,000 from R150.

                  

Chairman of Nippon Foundation,Japan,Yohei Sasakawa greets a leprosy patient during his visit to Mahatma Gandhi leprosy centre in Bhopal on Thursday.

Appreciating the work of Sasakawa, Chouhan said Sasakawa is doing the sacred work of serving leprosy patients. The CM said the state government would extend all possible co- operation to Sasakawa in his mission. He said a scheme would be chalked out in the state to provide pattas of houses and ration cards under the Antyodaya Anna Yojna to leprosy patients in the state. Besides, arrangements for treatment and employment-oriented training of leprosy patients would also be made, he added. Chouhan further said a survey would be conducted for starting health centres and Anganwadis in leprosy patients’ colonies. The state government will work with the Nippon Foundation for rehabilitating leprosy patients.

Sasakawa said he was serving leprosy patients in India since 1980. He said job-orientedtraining needs to be imparted to some patients after their treatment. The ambassador suggested that the state government should make special efforts for this.