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"Mother Teresa" of Bangalore, a new battle for her lepers
Since 2007, the rehabilitation center has had to sacrifice the dormitory for poor and homeless, because the government did not renew the lease on all terrains. At the end of July, the nun was in danger of having to leave India, where she worked for 29 years.
Bangalore (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Sister Jacqueline Jean, the "Mother Teresa" of Bangalore, is preparing for a new battle to save the rehabilitation center where she has assisted in nearly 30 years - and continues today - nearly 5 thousand lepers. After nearly having to abandon her patients suffering from leprosy, the English missionary now fears for the whole Sumanahalli Society: Since 2007, the government has not renewed it concessions and rent on the 63 acres of land on which the facilities of the Center stand to make way for "road widening."
The reduction of the concessions - now the center occupies only 55 acres - has led to the sacrifice of the building where they housed the beggars and those who had no home. But Sister Jean is also concerned about the whole Sumanahalli Society, which includes hospitals, schools, a rehabilitation center for leprosy and HIV / AIDS patients, and other structures.
Late last July, the government has refused the annual renewal of Sister Jean’s visa, giving her a month's notice to leave the country and return to Britain. On the back of numerous negative reactions, the Indian Minister of the Interior P. Chidambaran intervened by extending the visa of the nun "indefinitely". (cf. AsiaNews.it, " Government u-turn: Bangalore "Mother Teresa" can stay in India ").