In India, the recorded cases of leprosy have fallen from 57.6 per 1,000 people in 1980-81 to less than one per 10,000 in December 2005, which is considered the level of elimination by the health ministry as short of total eradication.

The other issues they have raised include formulation of a national policy for empowerment of leprosy affected, sustenance allowance of Rs.1,000 a month for them, free civil amenities, free education for their children and financial assistance so that they could start as small time traders.

According to Sanjeev Kumar, a consultant with the NGO, under sections 56 (1) and (2) of the Indian Rail Act, 1990, a leprosy patient is ineligible for rail travel. Under the Special Marriage Act of 1954, leprosy is 'incurable' and so is a ground for divorce.

He said the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, also says that people affected with leprosy are not eligible for driving licence.

Kumar said the candidature of a person in local elections in Orissa was rejected on grounds that he had leprosy.

According to Arun, who is working as project manager with the NGO and is known by his first name, he was detected with leprosy when he was nine.

'I was fully cured when I was 13. But I am still afraid to tell people that I had leprosy at one time because of the stigma attached to it,' he added.

Although, Arun has a diploma in engineering, he got no job and was asked to work as a petrol pump attendant.

'We need changes in laws so that people's mindset changes towards us. Leprosy is curable. I am just like any normal person. But people are still scared to interact or talk to me,' he added.

(Kavita Bajeli-Datt can be contacted at kavita.d@ians.in)