Goa Assembly removes leprosy references from child protection law
Goa's Assembly passes a bill to delete 'leprosy' from the Children's Act, 2003, following a Supreme Court order to reduce stigma.
The Goa Legislative Assembly has approved an amendment to the state's primary child welfare legislation, removing all references to leprosy. The move is designed to combat the social prejudice and discrimination that individuals affected by the disease continue to face.
The Goa Children's (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced by Women and Child Development Minister Vishwajit Rane and subsequently passed by a voice vote on Tuesday. The changes target the Goa Children's Act, 2003, specifically omitting the word 'leprosy' from two distinct sections.
One alteration concerns the definitions clause, which previously grouped leprosy with HIV as a condition associated with social stigma. The other change affects provisions related to health and nutrition, which bar hospitals from denying care to children or pregnant women with stigmatised conditions.
The state government has stated that the amendment is in line with a Supreme Court order issued in May 2025. Officials note that the bill carries no financial burden and will become law immediately upon receiving the Governor's assent.