Leprosy affected denied dignity; daughter, son carry body for funeral

Boudh: All government efforts to sensitise the rural mass on leprosy and social taboos surrounding it seem pointless with incidents like that of Boudh man denied decent funeral, pouring in from many parts of the state. In yet another inhuman act, villagers of Basudebpalli village under Manamunda Panchayat of the district, on Wednesday, refused to carry a leprosy affected person for funeral after his death.

According to reports, when family members of the deceased requested the villagers to help them carry the dead body for conduct of rituals, none lend a hand. With no option, the family including son, son-in-law and even the daughter of the deceased carried their father  on their shoulders to reach the funeral ground for last rites.

“Villagers refused to touch him in abhorrence and did not come to help in the funeral. We three carried the dead body and conducted the last rites on our own. The Manamunda Sarpanch gave Rs 2,000 for the funeral,” said Sanjib Kumar Sahu, son of the deceased.

“He was undergoing treatment in Manamunda. Even when he was alive, villagers used to hate my father as he was afflicted with leprosy,’’ said daughter Manjurani Sahu.