THE TRIBUNE 10 CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 1 FEBRUARY 2019 The unfairAyodhya move THETRIBUNE Union Government is acting as a shadow benami party for Hindu owners

established in 1881 saying this, the Union is challenging a judgment accepted since 1994. When the Nyas had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking direc- Chanda Kochhar indicted tions, the court had on July 21, 1997, praised the Central Government for Conviction must lead to withdrawal of national honour its correct stance in refusing the Nyas’ request. This position was RAJEEV DHAVAN HE Justice Srikrishna report is the final nail in Chanda reiterated by the court in 2002, 2003 Kochhar’s banking career. A commission of inquiry does not SENIOR ADVOCATE, SUPREME COURT and 2011. Today, the Centre has no Thave the rigour of a trial court, but the highly regarded judge objection, in principle, to restoring has irrevocably strengthened the public perception about a serious YODHYA’S Ram temple the land as a matter of duty to the conflict of interest between the role of the Padma Bhushan awardee was the mascot of the BJP’s Hindus after 25 years, even though as the custodian of public money and inappropriate lending predicat- electoral politics from the legal proceedings continue. The ed on a quid pro quo. Whether the CBI will go the whole hog in the time of the rath yatras of the Union thinks it is ‘in the larger case, given the split in the higher echelons of the government over a Aeighties. A White Paper on the wan- interest of justice’ because the Nyas wide-brush case against bankers, remains to be seen. ton Talibanesque destruction of the approached the Union Government, But the brazenness displayed by Kochhar and before that of the Babri Masjid (1992) was presented in which is obviously approaching the ICICI board comprising the stars of Indian private banking hints 1993. There has been a continuous SO FAR NOT GOOD: There are three winners and three losers, with no clear answers. court on the Nyas’ behalf. The that the breadth and seriousness of the crimes may be more than barrage of support for the temple at Union is not party to the case. Now, all costs. The party’s latest applica- it is a shadow benami party. that uncovered so far. The whistleblower’s revelations might as well tion in the Babri case to release the There is a solution: Give 0.333 acre to Muslims for a The land is needed because no one have died a natural death; after all the CBI’s preliminary probe had appurtenant land to the Hindu own- masjid. Take 67.703 acres, leaving a generous access liked the 2:1 Allahabad decision: hardly made glacial progress for two years and burst into life after ers is to appease the Sangha Parivar one-third each went to the Nirmohi a new officer was entrusted with the probe. While the investigation to encircle the disputed site. It is act- to the Muslims, and build the Ram temple. Akhara, the Deity and the Muslims will plod its course, there is a need for an examination of reform ing as the ‘benamidar’ of the Hindus — with the Muslim claim to be options to infuse greater accountability even among the monitors with malice aforethought. adjusted elsewhere, if necessary. for even the RBI in 2016 could not detect anything amiss in the In the 1994 Faruqui verdict, the rendered meaningless if the Muslims first appeal before the Supreme Where is this elsewhere? But the bank’s dealings and let the alleged misconduct go unpunished. Supreme Court gave an interpreta- are found entitled to the disputed Court, which is a continuation of the Hindu parties are fighting with each Moreover, the banks are now manufacturing myriad financial tion to the 1993 Ayodhya Act, convert- area’ and that the Manas Bhavan and High Court case whose decision was other. The Nirmohis say the Deity’s products and it is even more crucial to firmly tackle both personal as ing an acquisition statute into a Sita Ki Rasoi being ‘strategic in loca- too fractured to yield a satisfactory claim is corrupted, and want all of it. well as structural inadequacies that could lead to erosion of public standstill statute and making the tion’ were in a ‘unique class’ to justi- result. A first appeal is a rehearing The Deity wants all of it. The Sunni trust. Currently accounting for 30 per cent of business, private bank- Union Government a ‘statutory fy acquisition. It added that if this on all points raised. All the main Waqf Board wants all of it. But the ing has a huge growth potential. Chanda Kochhar’s alleged breach of receiver’, subject to a clear decision land was not needed, it could go back parties (Muslim and Hindu) are in appurtenant land was kept in status faith must not be allowed to taint the entire sector. In this respect, if on the title by the courts. By defini- to its Hindu owners. That moment, appeal. On May 9, 2011, the quo, so that access would be avail- tion, the Union was a neutral party too, has not yet come. Supreme Court, in the Mohd Siddiq able to the winners. But so far, there Chanda is convicted, it would be very necessary to take a second look with no ill will or favour towards any On March 17, 2002, in the Mohd case, again examined the issue and are three winners and three losers — at the national honour bestowed on her. In the past, former Haryana party, apart from its constitutional Aslam case, a three-judge Bench of ordered ‘status quo of the site and all need access to the site. The nation DGP RPS Rathore had the police medal withdrawn on conviction for obligation not to discriminate on the the Supreme Court ordered that adjacent land’. needs harmony. moral turpitude. There is no reason for an example to be made of a grounds of religion. The properties in this land would not be handed over To namdar and kamdar, we must The Union’s application is in the black sheep in the banking industry, if that is, indeed, the case. question under this statutory to the Hindus and remain neutral now add benamidar. In the present campaign mode, devoid of moral or receivership were the disputed site of without puja and shilanyas. Inter- application, the Union is actually legal justification. The Hindu sants 0.313 acre and 67.703 acres of appur- estingly in 2003, Attorney General siding with, and openly acting bena- now want to lay the foundation stone tenant land, which the Union in its Soli Sorabjee appeared for handing mi for the Hindu owners. When the on February 21. Where? On the site? application mischievously calls ‘sur- over this land to the Hindus, even Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas asked the This duplicity adds threat to outrage Jind jolt for INLD, Cong plus land’. According to the State- though he appeared for the Mus- Union for this land on June 6, 1996, and is contempt of court. ment of Objects and Reasons, the rea- lims in the Faruqui case — a com- the then government declined the There is still a solution: Give the BJP on top, fledgling JJP makes presence felt son for this extra acquisition was to plete flip-flop. On March 31, 2003, a request on August 14, 1996 — a view site (0.333 acre) to the Muslims to create ‘suitable adjacent land for set- five-judge Constitution Bench approved by the Supreme Court. rebuild their masjid. Take your N impressive victory in the Jind Assembly byelection has giv- ting up a complex land which could rejected the Union’s argument (this Today, in this application, the Union 67.703 acres, leaving a generous en the ruling BJP a strong head start in the run-up to the Lok be developed in a planned manner, time not led by Sorabjee) that the claims a ‘duty’ to restore the land. access to the Muslims, and build the ASabha and Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections. The verdict is wherein a Ram temple, a mosque, Faruqui judgment had overreached Actually, its duty is to remain neu- Ram temple. This intimidation also a triumph of sorts for young MP Dushyant Chautala, who had amenities to pilgrims, a library, muse- itself and ordered status quo till the tral. It goes further to say that which began in 1857. In July 1992, Muslims parted ways with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) amid a no- um and other facilities could be set Allahabad judgment, ‘not only to part should be released ‘in the destroyed a Ramjanmasthan temple, holds-barred family feud and founded the Jannayak Janata Party up’. That moment has still not come. maintain communal harmony, but domain of policy’ beyond ‘judicial 45 metres north of the masjid. States- (JJP) late last year. On its electoral debut, the AAP-backed JJP put up The Faruqui judgment thought that also fulfil the objectives of the Act’. scrutiny’ and beyond the Act of manship, not intimidation, is the a good fight to finish second. the appurtenant land would ‘not be The 2010 Allahabad judgment is in 1993. Hence, judicial hands off. By answer. There is a solution. The big losers are the INLD and the Congress, the main opposition parties in the state. The former finished a lowly fifth, even below the Loktantra Suraksha Party formed by BJP’s rebel MP Raj Kumar Saini. The INLD lost face as well as the seat it had won in 2009 and 2014 thanks to Hari Chand Middha, whose death necessitated the bypoll. The seat stays with the family as his son, Krishan Middha, who switched over to Up & down the NPA roller-coaster the BJP a few months ago, emerged victorious. Rahul Gandhi had raised the stakes very high by fielding Congress spokesperson and Kaithal Anmol Rattan Narang ing an NPA. My bosses in Delhi ly become NPA, which would affect My second-in-command became MLA Randeep Singh Surjewala, but the desperate move exposed the were after me to ensure that it my future prospects. serious. Unlike me, he was more con- party’s inability to find a suitable candidate from Jind itself. Factional- ANKERS these days remain did not happen. The main rea- One evening, his younger son cerned with the divine soul rather ism in the state Congress made things even worse for Surjewala, who obsessed with NPAs (non-per- sons for the account not being came to our branch. Due to my than the NPA. ended up third. The humbling loss suggests that the party’s recent Bforming assets). Whatever serviced were the conditions anxiety, the very first question After that, we daily waited for the resurgence in the Hindi belt might not spread to Haryana in the bigger you may talk to them, they will prevalent in the Valley, as also that I asked him was about the news of Sardarji’s death, but it did battles to be fought later this year, unless former CM Bhupinder Singh reply in terms of NPAs, the formida- the poor health of the head of the health of bade Sardarji. He said not come. I was transferred from that Hooda and other bigwigs somehow bury the hatchet. ble form as they have taken. family, who, due to a kidney he was coming directly from the branch in November 2010. The crucial division of the Jat vote — the community claims to In March 2010, when I was post- problem, was admitted to Sir hospital and that his father’s On joining my new office, I start- ed at Srinagar as a chief manager Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. condition was serious, as only ed concentrating on my new account for over one-fourth of the Jind electorate — worked in favour of a bank branch, the NPA mania Sardarji had two sons, who were 14 per cent of his kidneys assignment and forgot all about of the BJP, which fielded a Punjabi face (three other major candidates had begun to engulf bankers. A helping him in business but he had were working. the accounts of the Srinagar were Jats). The saffron party has reasserted its supremacy, but it Sikh gentleman, who was run- more trust in the elder one. It dampened my spirits. Seeing branch. Time passed by. Six-seven needs to be wary of the JJP, which is projecting itself as a viable alter- ning a business empire in the When Sardarji got admitted to me tense, my second-in-command months later, I received a phone native to the voters. As far as the INLD is concerned, it is in danger of Valley, had a loan with us, whose hospital, I panicked — I admit not entered the cabin and enquired call from my erstwhile second-in- being rendered a spent force sooner than later, not unlike its octoge- outstanding was around Rs 5 because of concerns whether he what had happened. I told him that command, informing me that Sar- narian supremo — the JBT scam-tainted Om Prakash Chautala. crore. The loan was not being will survive or not, but for the rea- Sardarji’s son had lost all hope darji had passed away. serviced for the past two months son that in the eventuality of his and was waiting for his father’s On learning, my mind wept, not for and was on the verge of becom- death, my loan account will certain- passage to heaven. the account, but for the soul.

thought for the day letters to the editor Among the followers of every religion, religious people ❞ Toxic the water flows The explanation by the officiating the BJP and the minimum income reorganisation of states in 1966, all ❝ are the exceptions. — Friedrich Nietzsche Buddha Nullah will remain toxic Civil Surgeon that they have for poor by the Congress to lure vot- high/higher secondary schools of till the government wakes up to the advertised for the post of paedia- ers are the seedy ways of our politi- present-day Punjab, Haryana and reality and takes drastic steps trician, but no doctor is ready to cians. What would be the norms for Himachal Pradesh were affiliated against units releasing industrial join at a salary of Rs 80,000 is identifying the poor? The first time with Panjab University, Chandi- on this day...100 years ago effluents into it (‘Buddah Nullah ridiculous. Will the bureaucracy a survey to identify BPL families garh. During this period, the uni- remains toxic’; Jan 31). Some units and politicians realise the situa- was conducted was in 1980-81. The versity did a lot to maintain a dig- dump poison underground via tion and do something for the process continued till 2002 after a nified standard of English in all bore-wells, thus polluting drinking well-being of the poor or will it be gap of every five years and there- schools. Dilution started taking and irrigation water. At places, even ‘ sab chalta hai’? after no such survey has been done. place when the schools got affiliat- sewage is released into water bod- That survey was also incorrect as ed with state education boards. lahore,saturday,february 1,1919 SHADI LAL, BY MAIL ies. Any number of attempts can be ineligible families were included Before giving the decision a practi- made to clean the water bodies, but and eligible ones were ignored. The cal shape, the state government The Punjab High Court. unless the source of pollutants is Status quo on Ayodhya Congress promise is not realistic. should ensure that necessary A DRAFT Bill to amend the Punjab Courts Act has just been issued, the object checked, our rivers, nullahs, ponds Apropos the editorial ‘Last-ditch The other promises will also meet training is provided to English being to enable it to apply to the Courts on the establishment of a High Court and lakes will remain polluted. move on Ayodhya’ (Jan 31), the the same fate. Even if such huge teachers so that a firm foundation of Judicature at Lahore. The constitution of the new High Court will be Once polluted, no technology will Centre’s unnecessary move on funds are arranged by squeezing is laid for this step. determined by Letters Patent and not by the Punjab Courts Act. The Chief help to restore the purity of under- handing back the ‘superfluous honest taxpayers, undoubtedly VK ANAND, CHANDIGARH Court will disappear when the High Court is established and the present ground water. The lackadaisical land’ acquired around the disputed such heavy sums will go down the measure is necessary to place the subordinate courts under the High Court. attitude of the governments to this site to the Ram temple trust has no drain. MGNREGA is already dying The measure will be passed beforehand in order to avoid any hiatus in the serious problem will stretch the justification at this juncture, when its slow death for want of adequate Prisoners’ rights administration of justice. The Bill is so framed as to come into operation at health services. appeals against the Allahabad HC’s funds as wages to the tune of crores Refer to the article ‘Norms for pre- once, and the Punjab Government will be empowered to notify the COL KULDIP S GREWAL (RETD), PATIALA verdict in the title suits have of rupees are pending for payment mature release need uniformity’ amendments on a date coinciding with the establishment of the High Court. reached the final stage of adjudica- in different states. (Jan 31); in present times, prisons tion before the SC. There is a bare- RAJ KUMAR KAPOOR, ROPAR are to be viewed not as cages to The Sedition Bills — a Plausible Argument. Death by negligence ly concealed political motive. Sta- quarantine criminals, but institu- IN our leading article we have referred to what is perhaps the strongest ground It is shocking to know that three tus quo needs to be maintained. tions aimed at reforming them, so on which the new legislative proposals are based, namely, that it is the newborns died in a single day at SS PAUL, NADIA Yes to English that they become useful members operation of the Defence of India Act that has put an end to the manifestations the special neonatal care unit of Reference to the news report of society. The pre-mature release of lawlessness and that there is no guarantee that when in due course that Act the General Hospital, Panipat, due ‘ From next session, 2,387 govt of prisoners is not immune from will lapse crime will not raise its head again. It is worthy to note that it is exactly to the non-availability of a paedia- Will go MGNREGA way schools to turn English medium’ political considerations and discre- on this ground that one of the two Indian members of the Rowlatt Committee trician and ventilator. As many as Refer to the editorial ‘Minimum (Jan 31); the initiative of the Pun- tions. Prisoners are entitled to live recently opposed a resolution in the Bengal Council recommending the release 33 children had died last year. This income for poor’ (Jan 30); distribut- jab Government is laudable. The with dignity and humane treat- of detenus in that Presidency. That the argument has a plausible look we do not is the state of affairs in a well-off ing freebies from government cof- importance of English can’t be ment. The rules must be the same for a moment deny. But is it really worth anything? Granted that it is with the state, where the government is on fers in the form of 10 per cent reser- underestimated on any parameter. for all prisoners. passing of the Defence of India Act that lawlessness has ceased. What does it a spree to announce new projects. vation among the upper class by Let us not forget that before the DIVYA SINGLA, PATIALA prove? It proves at the very best that all the persons who were actual or potential criminals are now under detention or surveillance. Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: [email protected] THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 1 FEBRUARY 2019 OPED 11 Temple gambit evokes a sense of déjà vu

might steal a march on them. The evoke the emotions of the late eight- Nyas was a signal that the VHP was ies and the nineties. Although a very much in business as far as Ayod- lemon that was squeezed for all it was hya went. Second, four BJP state gov- worth, cynically of course, the BJP ernments were sacked, including the was hoisted by the petard on which one in Uttar Pradesh, that deprived the RSS placed it. As the Gujarat the Sangh fraternity of the official Chief Minister, Narendra Modi suc- patronage it had enjoyed until then. cessfully frustrated the VHP’s RADHIKA RAMASESHAN The RSS calculation was that the BJP repeated exertions to distract him SENIOR JOURNALIST would win the 1993 UP elections, hav- from his chosen path of vikas (devel- ing fulfilled a major promise of oblit- opment) by flagging Hindutva. A dis- AISING a bhavya (magnifi- erating the mosque for eternity, and tance of 903 km separates Gandhina- cent) temple for Ram on the then a full-fledged temple could be gar from New Delhi. That’s big and disputed land in Ayodhya that built. That never happened, because Modi finds that he cannot deploy the had housed the Babri mosque the party lost to the Samajwadi Party- counters of the past to checkmate the Ris the last arrow in the BJP’s quiver that Bahujan Samaj Party coalition. VHP and its affiliated clergy. is being darted before the General Elec- However, months before the Lok Demoralised by the poll loss in three tion. A sense of déjà vu descended on Sabha elections, the RSS and the BJP states, an economy that cannot be this pilgrim town in Uttar Pradesh, as are somehow convinced that they called buoyant or depressed but one indeed the country, when the Centre have a winner in the temple. If, by a that is questioned for not creating moved the Supreme Court to seek per- twist of fate, the Supreme Court expe- TIMING: For the past over four years of the Narendra Modi government, the Ram temple issue lay dormant. enough jobs, the downturn in manu- mission to return the acquired dites hearing of the title suit and adju- facturing after demonetisation and ‘excess/superfluous’ land measuring dicates in favour of the Hindu liti- operation across the western border. from a filthy, shambolic town to a GST, a stagnant unorganised sector 67.703 acres to its ‘original owners’, gants represented by the Hindu Demoralised by the poll loss The anointment of Yogi Adityanath ‘ moksha-seeking’ destination with a and agrarian distress, the BJP-RSS principally the Ram Janmabhoomi Mahasabha and the Nirmohi Akhara, in three states, an economy as the UP Chief Minister stoked hopes grand Ram statue. cadres are desperately seeking an Nyas. The Nyas was constituted as an the judgment would be projected as a of a breakthrough because his mentor, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the issue that will raise the emotional vol- ‘independent’ trust by the Vishva Hin- ‘triumph’ of the ‘majority’. Con- that is questioned for not the late Mahant Avaidyanath, had Art of Living Foundation, briefly ini- ume on the stump. The surgical strike du Parishad (VHP) on January 25, 1993, versely, if the verdict is advantageous spearheaded the ‘movement’ for a tiated an effort to resolve the is over and done with. It’s time to to ‘administer’ the site of Ram’s ‘birth- to the Sunni Waqf Board, it would be creating enough jobs, the temple and indoctrinated his protégé imbroglio, joining a line of godmen revisit Ayodhya like the late Vajpayee place’ and oversee the construction of interpreted as an affront, even an downturn in manufacturing so thoroughly that in February 2003, that included Chandraswami, the did in 2003, a year before he faced a the envisioned temple. assault, to Hindu sentiments and give when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee govern- ‘tantrik’, and Jayendra Saraswathi, parliamentary election. Two circumstances led to the cre- the BJP an opening to play the victim. after demonetisation ment was embroiled in the Ayodhya the pontiff of the Kanchi Kamakoti Like the Modi government, the Vaj- ation of the Nyas: one, on January 7, For the past over four years of the tangle, the Yogi, then an MP from Peetham. It was unclear if the spiritu- payee dispensation moved the 1993, a month after the mosque was Narendra Modi government, the tem- and GST, and the agrarian Gorakhpur and a member of the al guru from Bengaluru was empow- Supreme Court to restore the land razed, the Narasimha Rao govern- ple issue lay dormant, while other distress, the BJP-RSS cadres VHP’s steering committee, told the ered by the Modi government to start adjacent to the contentious site to the ment promulgated the Acquisition of subjects and controversies signifying media that the Hindu clergy alone a dialogue with the Shia Waqf Board Nyas. The 2003 judgment stated that Certain Area at Ayodhya Ordinance ‘nationalism’ and Hindutva — are desperately seeking an owned the “right to adjudicate an and other stakeholders or if he acted the land must not be ‘disturbed’ for (replaced by an Act in April 1993) and notably the violent campaign against issue that was a matter of faith”. unilaterally. However, the VHP disre- two reasons: one, if the Muslims won took over the land surrounding the cow slaughter, re-conversion (ghar issue that will raise the Adityanath is probably committed to garded the move, justifiably empha- the title suit case, they could not be disputed 2.77 acres with the stated wapsi) and the surgical strikes — emotional volume on the the same position even now, but his sising that the Shia Board had no denied access to the extended prop- objective of building a Ram temple were placed on the radar of the cadre tenure saw little push on the temple locus standi in the Ayodhya legal cas- erty. Second, it was imperative to and setting up related infrastructure and the faithful. Ironically, in the hustings. The surgical strike issue, barring his celebrated touch- es and it was, therefore, ‘pointless’ maintain communal harmony and for Ayodhya’s residents and pilgrims. 2017 UP elections, the temple did not down on Ayodhya on Diwali that set reaching out to its members. peace, pending a resolution. Ashok The agenda was never realised, but its figure in the discourse of the BJP is over and done with. It’s off a controversy because the state The RSS and the VHP were deter- Singhal, the late VHP patriarch, articulation unsettled the VHP and leaders or the minds of the voters. time to revisit Ayodhya. government had allegedly spent mined not to let go of Ayodhya, even blamed Vajpayee for nixing a settle- the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Even in Ayodhya, topmost on the crores on adorning the town. The CM as the BJP was uncertain of its elec- ment. How will the Parivar judge (RSS), who feared that the Congress electors’ minds was the military’s promised a total makeover of Ayodhya toral dividends and its potential to Modi, its ‘poster boy’? Unfinished business on the leprosy front

NE of the oldest diseases Eradication Programme) was launched Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep) are known to mankind, leprosy as a centrally sponsored health scheme yet to achieve this epidemiological continues to be a major pub- under the Union Ministry of Health and goal of elimination. Due to a signifi- lic health concern in India Family Welfare. Multi-drug therapy cant migrant population in Chandi- Odespite significant developments in (MDT) a three-drug combination of garh, the leprosy burden in the union management strategies. India accounts rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine territory is high. The Department of for more than half of the leprosy burden that is administered for six to 12 months Dermatology at the PGI has been run- worldwide. The other high-burden coun- has been implemented by the NLEP ning a weekly leprosy clinic since the DR SANJEEV HANDA tries include Brazil and Indonesia. Of since 1982 to cure the infection. Signifi- past more than 30 years. HEAD, DEPT OF DERMATOLOGY, VENEREOLOGY the new cases, approximately 8.9 per cant success in controlling and treating To improve the detection of new cas- & LEPROLOGY, PGIMER, CHANDIGARH cent are children and 6.7 per cent have leprosy has been achieved owing to the es and expedite treatment, the NLEP visible deformities. Scaled-up interven- efforts of the NLEP and the introduction recently launched an active case-find- tions are needed with the focus on pre- of MDT. The goal of elimination (less ing strategy known as the Leprosy India accounts for around venting transmission of leprosy. than one case/10,000 people) of leprosy at Case Detection Campaign (LCDC), 60 per cent of the newly Leprosy is a chronic infectious dis- the national level was achieved in which led to the detection of 34,000 new ease affecting peripheral nerves and December 2005, down from a prevalence cases in 2016, especially from highly detected leprosy cases the skin. It usually manifests as light rate of 57.8/10,000 in 1983. Attempts are endemic areas accounting for around or red-coloured patches on the skin, being made to achieve eradication of 25 per cent of the total fresh cases. in the world and is loss of sensation or abnormal sensa- TARGET: India’s goal of leprosy elimination (less than one case per 10,000 people) leprosy. Since the introduction of MDT, Research on vaccines against leprosy categorised among the 22 tion, and muscle weakness. It is a was achieved in 2005. It is hoped that the disease will be eradicated in the near future. 16 million cases of leprosy have been is still going on. Various vaccines have curable disease; treatment is provid- treated and 4 million deformities have been tried, but none have been uni- ‘global priority’ countries. ed by the government free of cost. If health professionals, social workers Various amendments have been been prevented till now. formly effective and are used more for untreated, the disease may lead to and the media to remove the stigma passed in Parliament, seeking to end India still accounts for around 60 boosting the immune system to help in There is still fear and deformities such as claw hand, foot associated with the disease. Several discriminatory laws against leprosy, per cent of the newly detected cases the faster clearance of the disease in stigma associated with the drop and ulceration on the hands and prevalent myths have been major such as holding it as a ground for and is categorised among the 22 leprosy patients and indirectly in pre- feet. Over time, it may affect the eyes, roadblocks in the battle against lep- divorce and considering it an incur- ‘global priority’ countries. The new- vention of transmission. Single-dose disease. Patients often face joints and bones. rosy. According to one, the ailment is able and virulent disease. Every year, case detection rate has not declined rifampicin, given to the close contacts In India, there is still fear and stigma a ‘punishment’ for past sins. Such Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom day significantly over the past few years. of patients, has been found effective in discrimination. Public associated with leprosy. Patients often myths often make patients seek treat- (January 30) is commemorated as According to the NLEP progress preventing transmission. This strategy awareness regarding face discrimination. The deformities ment belatedly, leading to irreversible World Leprosy Day to generate aware- report, 1.35 lakh new cases were can be adopted for use on a mass scale and complications associated with nerve damage and disabilities. Early ness among people regarding the dis- detected during 2016-17. This shows in leprosy-endemic areas. leprosy is of the utmost leprosy are witnessed less frequently detection of leprosy is vital as it offers ease, reduce stigma associated with it an Annual New Case Detection Rate It is hoped that the disease will be nowadays owing to the availability of the dual advantage of ensuring initia- and remember the Father of the (ANCDR) of 10.17 per lakh popula- eradicated in the near future with the importance for early multi-drug therapy used to cure the tion of treatment at an early stage and Nation’s selfless work for the welfare tion. After achieving disease elimina- initiatives of the health authorities, detection, control of disease and strategies to prevent and reducing the chances of transmission of leprosy patients. tion in 2005, funds have been diverted strong political will and community repair deformities. to close contacts. Health profession- The National Leprosy Control Pro- from the leprosy control programme participation. Efforts need to be made transmission and cure. Public awareness regarding leprosy als treating patients must screen gramme (NLCP) was launched by the to programmes for controlling other to reduce deformity through early is of the utmost importance for early close contacts and family members of Union Government in 1955 to treat and diseases. However, four states (Bihar, detection, self-care, physiotherapy detection, control of transmission and the patient, especially children, for control the transmission of the disease. Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha) and reconstructive surgery and devel- cure. People need to be educated by early signs of leprosy. In 1983, the NLEP (National Leprosy and two union territories (Dadra and oping sound surveillance systems.

quick crossword su do ku calendar forecast SUNSET: FRIDAY 17:58 HRS ACROSS FEBRUARY 1, 2019 FRIDAY 1 Boisterous laugh (6) SUNRISE: SATURDAY 07:14 HRS 4 Adversary (8) 2 6 5 ■ Vikrami Samvat 2075 9 In full view (6) ■ Shaka Samvat 1940 10 Sign of authenticity (8) Sunny Partly Cloudy Cloudy Rainy Foggy ■ Magh Shaka 12 12 Depressed (4) 3 CITY MAX MIN 13 Comic entertainer (5) ■ Magh Parvishte 19 14 Intended method (4) Chandigarh 19 07 ■ Hijari 1440 17 Crucial (3-9) New Delhi 20 10 20 Symbol of cowardice (5,7) 9 3 1 7 4 ■ Krishan Paksh Tithi 12, up to 7.00 pm PUNJAB 23 Loot from robbery (4) ■ Harsh Yoga up to 6.18 am Amritsar 17 06 24 Journal (5) Bathinda 17 07 25 Large long-necked bird (4) ■ Moola Nakshatra up to 9.07 pm 5 1 2 Jalandhar 16 06 28 Wrong-headed (8) ■ Moon in Sagittarius sign 29 Capital of Colombia (6) Ludhiana 19 05 30 In these times (8) ■ Gandmool up to 9.07 pm. HARYANA 31 Hurt (6) 4 1 Bhiwani 20 09 DOWN YESTERDAY S SOLUTION Hisar 20 07 1 Considerable amount (4,4) ’ Sirsa 18 07 2 Voluntary choice (4,4) 9 8 2 4 1 6 7 5 3 3 Join by treaty (4) 5 3 9 HIMACHAL PRADESH 5 Take unnecessary risks (4,4,4) 7 5 6 2 9 3 8 1 4 Dharamsala 12 04 6 Sole (4) 4 1 3 5 8 7 2 9 6 Manali 08 --03 7 Make possible (6) 7 2 4 9 8 Shimla 08 01 8 Fascinating (6) 5 4 7 6 2 9 3 8 1 11 Murderously intent (12) JAMMU & KASHMIR 15 US city, D-Day beach (5) 8 2 1 3 5 4 6 7 9 Jammu 14 08 3 Leh -01 --09 16 Move furtively (5) 6 3 9 1 7 8 4 2 5 YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 18 Decisive confrontation (8) Srinagar 03 0 19 A soak (8) 2 9 4 7 3 5 1 6 8 UTTARAKHAND Across: 1 Ensue, 4 Suspend, 8 Run, 9 Rotterdam, 10 Teacher, 11 Lobby, 13 Choosy, 15 21 Polish-born French composer (6) 8 5 7 Dehradun 21 08 Chilly, 18 Wheel, 19 Station, 21 Liverpool, 23 Out, 24 Sincere, 25 Where. 22 Rabbit hole (6) 3 7 8 9 6 1 5 4 2 Down: 1 Erratic, 2 Singapore, 3 Earth, 4 Suture, 5 Stealth, 6 End, 7 Dummy, 12 26 Dispatch (4) Mussoorie 10 01 1 6 5 8 4 2 9 3 7 TEMPERATURE IN OC Baltimore, 14 Splurge, 16 Yangtze, 17 Ashore, 18 Wales, 20 Allow, 22 Van. 27 Jot (4) V. HARD