India can soon be declared as the new leprosy capital of the world as the recent shocking figures are confirming a 55.5% contribution of India to worldwide leprosy cases.

It is really unbelievable that a country, which was declared leprosy free in the year 2005, after only seven years is showcasing a fresh spate of leprosy cases. The figures have been showed a big concern by Mr. S. D. Gokhale, President of International Leprosy Union (ILU) (India). He clears that out of the worldwide total of 2,28,474 new leprosy cases in 2010, India has reported 1,26,800 cases, which accounts for an alarming 55.5% of the figure.

“If the union and state governments do not take serious note of this fact (the figures quoted were confirmed by union health ministry in a reply given in the Rajya Sabha on March 13, 2012) and initiate effective steps to eradicate leprosy, the problem would become more acute”, he said.

In context to same, ILU’s latest step towards helping the Leprosy Affected Patients (LAP) is “LAP’s Human Rights Cell” decision. Moreover, ILU also held a three day conference in Pune this week to work upon the growing problem.

Activists working for LAPs in different States attended the meeting and have prepared a memorandum of 14 demands that are still pending with the union and state governments.