The Centre has asked the States to draw up action plans to overcome the shortage of manpower in dealing with leprosy, a highly stigmatised and debilitating disease. The plans are to be reflected in the project implementation plans (PIPs) for 2010-11.
Only nine States — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — have dedicated Leprosy Officers in place. The situation at the district-level is even worse, with 116 posts lying vacant as against the sanctioned 311 posts in 523 districts in 20 States.
