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Villagers expels leprosy patient
RAUTAHAT, DEC 22 - In perhaps, the first incident of its type in the district, a leprosy patient was cast out of the village by his own family members and neighbours in Hardiya VDC-7, in east Rautahat four days ago.
Two years ago, when the first symptoms of Leprosy appeared on the hands and legs of Budhan Raya Yadav, 32, his wife left him for another man. Ignorant of the fact that the disease could be cured through proper treatment, Yadav concealed the disease.
When the disease developed to a more acute form, his own ageing parents, in collaboration with the neighbours expelled him from the village. The villagers feared that the disease afflicting Yadav would affect the villagers, if they let him stay in the village, according to them.
Yadav is living in makeshift arrangements on his land, at a distance from the village. With the evil fate dogging Yadav, his elderly parents and two children are virtually helpless, according to him.
"My father is a victim of paralysis for the past five years while my mother and children are too weak to work for a living," lamented Yadav.
"Yadav was ostracised as he concealed his illness when health workers were in the village to investigate leprosy cases," said Binod Mahato, working with Madanpur Health Post in the neighbouring village.
Villagers from another neighbouring Samanpur village had failed to persuade Yadav’s villagers to let him remain in his own house, according to Ram Sagar Shah, the Chairman of Samanpur Lion’s Club.Posted on: 2003-12-23 04:43
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