NEWSLINKS US EDITION COLUMNISTS DIARY SPECIALS INTERVIEWS CAPITAL BUZZ REDIFF POLL THE STATES ELECTIONS ARCHIVES SEARCH REDIFF
Despite the fate of her husband and two children, Gladys Staines, widow of the Australian missionary, decided to stay on in India to accomplish her husband's dream of setting up a hospital for lepers at Mayurbhanj, said the Global Council of Indian Christians.
''However, government authorities are reluctant to co-operate in providing her the necessary land for the hospital. Not only are they reluctant to co-operate but also trying their best to repossess the Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home gifted 102 years ago by the erstwhile Maharaja to care for lepers in this least developed region of the state,'' GCIC national convenor Sajan K George said in a statement.
The Mayurbhanj Leprosy Hospital has stood the test of time for over a century and discharged "enviable service for the poor and the needy but is now facing an uncertain future because of the callous indifference of the state government," he said.
George said the state government had recently slapped a demand for more than Rs 10 million on Gladys for regularising the property gifted by the Maharaja more than a century ago.
''This behaviour of the state government clearly demonstrates that they are under pressure from the Sangh Parivar to humiliate the poor lady,'' he alleged.
Gladys is now facing a piquant situation because her residential visa will expire in August this year, the GCIC convenor said, adding that well-orchestrated attempts were being made to 'traumatise her by unleashing hate literature and a vilification campaign'.
He said the GCIC would urge the collective conscience of the people in the country to endorse and encourage Gladys' resolve to develop the reconstructive surgical hospital.
''This will be a monument of a saner answer to the people and organisations who are trying to create a wedge between different communities in the name of culture and inheritance,'' George said.
UNI
RELATED REPORT 'Staines' killers shouted Dara Singh ki jai'
Back to top
Tell us what you think of this report
