Nandini Chandrashekar, Bangalore, Aug 2, DHNS:

Sr Jean's tryst with the Home Ministry may be over, but she is gearing up for another battle - Saving the land that houses the Sumanahalli Rehabilitation Centre for leprosy patients.

British-born Jacqueline Jean McEwan, better known as Sr Jean, tirelessly working for the rehabilitation of leprosy patients had an embarrassed Home Ministry assure her that she could stay in India as long as she liked and she did not have to worry about renewing her visa. The Foreign Regional Registration Office (FRRO) had issued a notice to her to leave the country as her resident permit had not been renewed. But, on the intervention of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, the matter was resolved immediately.

Lease not renewed
With that problem out of the way, Sr Jean now hopes to hold on to the land that houses Sumanahalli Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre.

The Centre, over the past 34 years, has tried to change the lives of those afflicted with leprosy and enabled them to join the mainstream of society. The 30-year lease with the State Government for 63 acres of land expired in 2007. The extent was reduced to 55 acres after acquisition of land for road widening.

Hospitals, schools, training centre and other buildings stand on this land. The Government seems to be in no mood to give back the prime piece of land, which is part of the land given to rehabilitate beggars. For two years, the high-level committee appointed to decide the fate of the land has chosen to stay mum. “The file is lying somewhere and still being looked at. We are trying to ensure that the lease is renewed,” Sr Jean said.

When she arrived from Britain 29 years ago, leprosy patients were treated in isolation and sent home after counselling. Children of the affected parents were pushed to begging and the patients were ostracised.

With steady intervention over the years at the rehab centre, the children could get education and jobs. Jean definitely wants to return to Britain, but not before completing her mission here.

“A lot of my patients are of my age or older. They were here when I first came to this place and they are here now. Over the years, we have spent so much time together that we have become friends,” she said. Several of them are in the twilight of their life.
“Their health is failing. Infections, drugs and depression - all of them have taken a heavy toll on them. I want to stay with them as long as they need me,” Jean said.