BMC proposes to double monthly financial aid for Mumbai leprosy patients to Rs 5,000
On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) proposed to double the monthly financial assistance for leprosy patients in Mumbai from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000. The proposal followed a meeting between Mayor Tawde, senior BJP councillor Ganesh Khankar, and a delegation from the Leprosy Patients Association to address the financial difficulties caused by inflation, disability, and social stigma.
The BMC has been providing a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 as a social welfare scheme to leprosy patients since 2019. Under this initiative, patients diagnosed with leprosy receive the financial aid throughout their lives to help them cope with the rising cost of living.
During Monday's meeting, the association's delegation urged that the current honorarium of Rs 2,500 had become inadequate. Mayor Tawde subsequently demanded that the monthly assistance amount be doubled to Rs 5,000 going forward.
Jitendra Chavan, president of the Leprosy Patients Association, explained that the patients have limited opportunities to earn a livelihood. He stated that patients either become disabled or are denied work due to social stigma, making the increase to Rs 5,000 necessary to cover basic necessities. Chavan also pointed out that the Panvel Municipal Corporation currently provides a higher monthly grant of Rs 4,000 to low-income leprosy patients.
According to civic officials, there are currently 300 beneficiaries of this scheme in Mumbai. This currently costs the BMC Rs 7.5 lakh every month. Once the proposed hike is approved, the monthly expenditure will increase to Rs 15 lakh. A civic official stated that the proposal will be tabled in the civic standing committee for final clearance after receiving administrative approval.
Reflecting on past efforts, councillor Ganesh Khankar noted that the civic administration had previously tried to provide patients with opportunities to work by issuing auto-rickshaw licenses. However, the initiative failed because people refused to board their autos due to social stigma, and many patients found the physical demands of the job too hectic. This prompted the BMC to introduce the direct social welfare scheme instead.
