LEPROSY IN INDIA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31237, 8 December 1966, Page 20

LEPROSY IN INDIA

New Famine Threat

Famine had brought tragedy to several leprosy homes and hospitals in India, the Rev. M. Feist told the executive of the Mission to Lepers (New Zealand) in Auckland recently. In some districts, already hard hit by famine, the rains had failed again, he said. From Palamau District In Bihar, the missionary wrote: “Tragedy has struck again in this area in that there has been almost a complete failure of the rice crop, and the winter crop will be just nil because the lack of rain meant that the cultivators could not even plough the hard earth. Many people already have no food left and wells and dams are drying. There will be no further rain of any value before next June so you can imagine the crisis we now face with thousands of cattle dying in the next few months."

The letter says that desperate appeal to the Indian National Christian Council Committee on Relief has brought a promise of enough grain and powdered milk for the leprosy patients, but many needs remain not met in the area.

A letter from Dr. J. Banswar of the mission's hospital at Bhagalpur, in North Bihar, said the price of rice had almost doubled in recent months, but the devaluation of the Indian rupee made famine relief gifts go further now.

The executive decided to make the situation known to the public, and to invite those who had not yet helped leprosy relief funds this year to make a special gift before Christmas time to meet this need.