Making Change-agents

In India, leprosy is considered stigmatizing disease and affected persons are shunned away due to their deformities and wounds and they are not accepted as part of the society. Even today, the misconception that leprosy is a disease from God or punishment by God plays prominently in imposing stigma in the lives of people affected by leprosy and their families. Moreover, ignorance and lack of awareness prevails in the minds of many who still consider that leprosy is incurable and contagious. Leprosy therefore has been used as an excuse to exclude People with Disability due to Leprosy (PWDL) and their families into isolation in self-settled colonies or in villages. Due to the disability, the persons affected by leprosy resort to begging and their families find it hard to lead a decent life. As their parents are unable to support them economically due to their permanent disability and disfigurement the lives of the children become precarious and vulnerable. In this socio-economic milieu, children and youth from the leprosy affected families in villages and living in colonies face enormous constraint both socially and economically to pursue their education. To light hopes in the lives of PWDL and their children and youth in particular, NLR India has been providing education support for primary and secondary education in order to enable quality education by providing tuition/admission fees, stationary, uniforms and dress, school bags, shoes etc., as per individual children and youths’ needs. NLR India aims at a world in which suffering caused by leprosy does not exist anymore and Inclusive development devoid of social exclusion prevails. The change agents are also provided training on life skill and sexual and reproductive health

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)

This is a short description elaborating the service you have mentioned above.​

Making Change-agents

This is a short description elaborating the service you have mentioned above.​

Disable Friendly Villages (Multi-country project)

This is a short description elaborating the service you have mentioned above.​

Study on leprosy stigma in Jharkhand GHC staff

This is a short description elaborating the service you have mentioned above.​

Disable Friendly Toilets (ONGC)

This is a short description elaborating the service you have mentioned above.​

Mental wellbeing study in Jaunpur and Bokaro

This is a short description elaborating the service you have mentioned above.​

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.