Why is it in the news ?
- The Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Budget session passed the Bill removing leprosy as a ground for divorce under five personal laws.
More in the news
- The Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 sought to remove leprosy as a ground for divorce in following five personal laws:
- Hindu Marriage Act,
- Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act,
- Divorce Act (for Christians),
- Special Marriage Ac.
- The Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act.
- The Law Commission had recommended repeal of laws and provisions which were discriminatory against leprosy affected people.
- Besides, India is a signatory to a UN Resolution which calls for elimination of discrimination against persons suffering from leprosy.
- In 2014, the Supreme Court had also asked the Centre and the state governments to take steps for rehabilitation and integration of leprosy affected people into the mainstream.
Leprosy
- Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae.
- It affects the skin, the peripheral nerves and the upper part of the airway, or the testes.
- It is transmitted by prolonged contact, usually through aerosols containing the nasal secretions, or droplets from these fluids.
- However, 95% of people are naturally immune to the infection.
- It can also be transmitted from mother to child via the placenta.
- Leprosy is fully curable if diagnosed and treated early, before permanent neurological damage sets in.
Source
The Hindu, ET.