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Gladys Staines to build leprosy hospital in husband's memory

Gladys Staines, the wife of Australian-born missionary Graham Stewart Staines, is planning to expand the work of her slain husband among the tribals of north Orissa by building a forty-bed referral hospital for leprosy patients with state-of-the-art facilities.

The hospital, in memory of Graham who was burnt alive with his two sons at Manoharpur in January this year, will have facilities for surgery and physiotherapy among other things, Gladys Staines told reporters.

Gladys Staines who is to meet the director of the Leprosy Mission tomorrow, said, ''funds are being organised to build the hospital which will be in addition to the leprosy home at Baripada.''

The leprosy home, which is now being looked after by Gladys, has 60 patients at present. ''Once the hospital comes up, the leprosy home will be converted into a rehabilitation centre,'' she said.

She denied that her husband, who was killed allegedly by some fanatics, was in any way involved in religious conversion of the tribals of the area. Answering a question, she said his 'jungle camps' were specifically meant for Christians who wanted to know more about the religion and the teachings of Bible. ''Of course others could not be stopped from attending those meetings,'' she said.

Gladys said the attitude of the local administration and the people to her work was ''very positive'' and added she had not received any threats after her husband's killing. However, she added,'' I am concerned about my 13-year-old daughter Esther who is studying in a school in Ooty.''

Regarding the killers of her husband and sons, Gladys said she had forgiven them and ''it is up to the police to carry out the investigations.'' She said her daughter coped with the tragedy ''very well and had forgiven its perpetrators.'' ''Mummy I cannot understand why people cannot forgive,'' she quoted her daughter as saying.

Gladys said she had not yet decided on applying for Indian citizenship. During her stay in India, she is expected to visit the Australian high commission regarding the formalities for her visa which expires in October next year.

Social activist Swami Agnivesh and Rev Valson Thampu of Religions for Social Justice which hosted the media interaction said they had met the prime minister and the President for granting Indian citizenship to Gladys Staines and had received a ''positive response.''

Asked whether she planned to diversify her social work, Gladys said there had been a gradual decline in the incidence of leprosy over the years. ''Later, we might address the patients of tuberculosis which is also rampant in the area,'' she added.

Swami Agnivesh said they had decided to set up a multi-faith school in Manoharpur, the place where the Staines were killed. ''Manoharpur, a cluster of 40 villages, with a population of about 40,000 has one school where only 21 children are enrolled ... There are hardly any classes as the teachers do not know the local tribal language, Santhali,'' he said.

UNI

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