An amendment to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2000 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 19^th August 2011, which will stop the practice of separating children with diseases from other occupants of juvenile homes.

 

This Bill replaces a provision in the Act of 2000 which gave authorities in special homes, or children’s homes, the power to move children with leprosy, tuberculosis, unsound mind and hepatitis-B to treatment centres, because it is now known that it is not necessary to segregate people while they are being treated for these conditions. It is also known that segregation can have a highly negative impact on children’s minds, a point the Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath made during the debate on this amendment.

 

Dr P K Gopal, President for International Relations of the International Association for Integration, Dignity and Economic Advancement has been lobbying since 2008 for the repeal or replacement of laws that are discriminatory towards persons affected by leprosy. These were laws identified by the International Leprosy Union, with the help of a Committee it appointed, headed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Law of the Government of Maharashtra. He played a role, along with the International Leprosy Union and the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation in the Petition that was submitted to the Indian Parliament requesting amendment of certain laws that discriminate against them. Though thrilled that the Rajya Sabha has made the first such amendment, Dr Gopal has indicated that he is pursuing changes to many other laws that discriminate against persons affected by leprosy. Indeed, on 19^th August, the Rajya Sabha expressed the need to amend discriminatory legislation and to ensure that those affected by leprosy enjoy equal rights with others.

 

Categories: India