Vardhan writes to Prasad, Gehlot for amending laws discriminatory against people affected by leprosy

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has written to the ministries of law, and social justice and empowerment seeking amendments to the over 100 laws that are discriminatory against persons affected by leprosy.

In his letter to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot, Vardhan requested them take initiatives to amend the laws at a time the country is marking 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

"It will be a befitting tribute to the Father of the Nation on his 150th birth anniversary if we can expedite the process and introduction of the Elimination of Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy (EDPAL) Bill, which was drafted by the Law Commission of India and annexed in its 256th Report," Vardhan wrote in his letter to the two ministers.

Vardhan said, "Even though the disease is now fully curable, it is disturbing to learn that there still exist 108 discriminatory laws against persons affected by leprosy -- three Union and 105 State laws."