Irked by alleged false information about a leprosy welfare NGO, more than 100 people afflicted with leprosy who have benefited from the NGO petitioned the District Administration here on Monday.

The leprosy-affected members residing at the ‘Embrace, A Village Community Health Centre’, which has been taking care of them for the past 16 years, said that because of false allegations their future was in jeopardy.

A Ganeshan, President of the Social Welfare wing of the Amarjothi Leprosy Nivaran Sangh, said that the centre was set up by the organisation 16 years ago to shelter leprosy-affected people and their family members.

“More than 125 families reside in the centre and we are all supported by the organisation,” he said, adding that the centre was maintained well by the organisation. He further added that the health and hygiene of the residents were taken care of.

However, recently, a person named Shyam, who is unrelated to the centre, allegedly spread false information in the media after he conducted a medical camp in the area.

“He has claimed that medicine and cotton used by patients are dumped in a residential area, which is not true. He is doing such things out of self-interest,” claimed V Jayaprakash, member of the Vimal Jeevan Shanthi Leprosy Welfare Association.

The members petitioned District Collector T N Hariharan seeking action against those spreading false news.