Delhi Social Welfare Minister orders complete makeover of leprosy complex

Delhi Social Welfare Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Monday inspected the leprosy complex here after receiving complaints of its degrading condition asked officials to ensure that problems of sewage, water, sanitation and toilets are "solved at the earliest"

During his visit, he asked the residents of the Tahirpur complex, one of the largest in Asia for the leprosy-affected, about their day to day issues.

Accompanied by officials from the the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Public Works Department (PWD), and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), Gautam "minutely assessed" and inspected the complex and its prevailing conditions, said a release from his office.

"The entire complex has water logging issues, sewage issues, drinking water and sanitation issues. The toilet blocks inside the complex are in pathetic condition and need to be renovated," it said.

Inside the complex, there was a skill development centre which hasn't been functional for the last 10 years.

"The Minister inspected it and asked the officials to submit a report of the centre and directed its restart so that skill learning recommences," the statement said.

Gautam also asked the Social Welfare Secretary to open a bank branch there since only one bank is located in the vicinity.

--IANS

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