Disable Friendly Villages (Multi-country project)

The project is unique as it envisages an inclusive society for persons with disabilities including persons affected by leprosy.  To sensitize the community at large, NLR India will enhance the people’s awareness on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016 considerably; which in turn will create a force of human resource for advocacy and lobbying on disability rights within the community. The disabled people’s organization (DPOs) will be trained on how to claim their rights using the UNCRPD and existing national laws. DPOs will be trained on leprosy and play an active role in leprosy control and treatment programmes. DPOs will be trained to train key stakeholders in the community on inclusion of persons with disabilities and or disability issues in mainstream development program. Early Childhood Development Centres will be set up including services for children with disabilities. Parents and teachers will be trained on the importance of inclusive education and how to cater for their basic needs. Considering the abject poverty and discriminations faced by persons with disabilities including affected by leprosy & their dependents, socio-economic upliftment becomes a high priority sector of overall development & rehabilitation. NLR India will work towards establishing and strengthen community-based peoples’ institutions by organizing Persons affected by Leprosy and Persons with Disabilities. NLR India will capacitate the existing community-based people’s institutions so that they are able to voice for their rights & entitlements. NLR India will also work with duty bearers in the sector of health, social welfare and education.  NLR will further work on convergence with existing PWD Forums/Networks so that persons affected by leprosy lead some of the SHGs and DPOs and raise their concerns through these networks and forum. The DID work also offers opportunities of interaction between duty bears and right holders.  This project is being implemented in 11 blocks of Aurangabad district in Bihar.

Our Approach

It is not just the physical effects of leprosy which devastates lives. The prejudice that people experience is separating them from society and excluding them from full participation in all ways of life, causing many affected and disabled by leprosy to feel ashamed and worthless.

Empowering PWD (DID)

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Making Change-agents

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Disable Friendly Villages (Multi-country project)

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Study on leprosy stigma in Jharkhand GHC staff

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Disable Friendly Toilets (ONGC)

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Mental wellbeing study in Jaunpur and Bokaro

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A barrier to treatment

Not only physical effects of leprosy have an impact on the persons affected by this disease, but other consequences are felt even long after treatment of the disease. Social stigma and discrimination are major barriers for equal participation at community level and in wider society. This terrible stigma is also a barrier to treatment. Many people hide away, avoiding a diagnosis for fear of its consequences.