Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 13 2009:
Alleging that an area of 1.90 acres registered under the Leprosy Patients' Welfare Society, Lei-Ingkhol have been acquired secretively and boundary wall being constructed beyond the boundary earmarked for High Court complex, the Leprosy Patients' Welfare Society has decided to file a petition to the Manipur Human Rights Commission against the Chief Engineer of PWD on the matter.
Speaking to media persons at Lei-Ingkhol Children Home today, secretary of the Leprosy Patients' Welfare Society, A Tolen recalled that leprosy patients and their families were earlier housed at Pureiromba before they were shifted to Lei-Ingkhol by a Government order in 1947 .
To look after the treatment and welfare of leprosy patients and individuals disabled by leprosy, the Leprosy Patients' Welfare Society was established in 1976 as a registered body.
Since then, the society has been providing assistance to Children Home, community care centre for HIV/AIDS patients by engaging in pisciculture, sericulture and poultry farming, Tolen said.
But ring bandhs of the pisiculture farm have been destroyed in the course of constructing High Court complex which was done without issuing any prior notification, he decried.
The pisciculture farm which was developed after a prolonged effort was in a position to provide wholesome food to the inmates of the Children Home.
However with the destruction of the ring bandhs, the whole programme has been cut short following secretive acquisition of land.
Citing all these conditions, a written appeal was submitted to the PWD Chief Engineer on March 31 to stop the fencing construction work.
However, there has been no response to the appeal and the fencing construction work has been going.
As such, a complaint will be filed at Manipur Human Rights Commission seeking necessary action against the Chief Engineer, A Tolen said.