NHRC, India and co-chaired by Hon’ble Member, Justice M.M. Kumar. Two experts on the subject matter joined the meeting virtually, keeping in mind the Covid-19 protocol, Dr. Vineeta Shanker, Former Executive Director, Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation and Ms. Nikita Sarah, Head of Advocacy and Communication, The Leprosy Mission Trust India. Important recommendations that emerged out of the meeting include: • There is a need to repeal discriminatory laws against leprosy. • Concerted efforts need to be made to sensitise and create necessary awareness among different stakeholders. • There is a need for Psychological Counseling/Mental health support for people affected by leprosy, especially children. • Special attention must be given to the most vulnerable population —women, children, elderly and residents of these colonies. • There is a need to focus on the education and counselling of children of leprosy affected people to overcome the stigma and help them integrate with the mainstream of the society. • Skill development programmes must be initiated to train them and provide them with opportunities for their socio-economic empowerment to earn sustainable livelihoods with dignity. 7.20 Meeting on Human Rights of People Suffering from Drug Addiction: A virtual meeting for a discussion with Society for Promotion of Youth andMasses (SPYM) on ‘Human Rights of People Suffering from Drug Addiction’ was held on 11 August 2021, via Cisco Webex, keeping in view the Covid-19 protocol. The meeting was chaired by Hon’ble Member, Dr. D.M. Mulay. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Executive Director, Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), joined the meeting along with around 30 NGOs from different States/regions of the country to deliberate upon various issues faced by the drug abusers/addicts in India. There were various key issues identified in the meeting for further deliberations, including, non-availability of adequate and appropriate treatment facilities for deaddiction, large number of unauthorised ‘de-addiction’ centres, lack of Government treatment centres for women and children, need for treatment facilities in jails and lack of awareness. Meeting of the Core Group on Health and Mental Health 7.21 Meeting of the Core Group on Health and Mental Health was held on 22 December 2021. The meeting was held in two parts. Session 1 on the topic, Leprosy and Leprosy Colonies, was chaired by Hon’ble Chairperson, Justice Arun Mishra and Session 2 on the topic Covid-19 and Mental Health was chaired by Hon’ble Member, Justice Mahesh Mittal Kumar. The meeting was attended by the Core Groups Members, Special Monitor, Health and Mental Health, NHRC, Representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Civil Society Organisations, Academicians and Clinicians from various esteemed health establishments. ANNUAL REPORT 67 2021-22