Impact Stories

How does one make a difference in the life of an individual who is burdened by destitution and lingering stigma of a disease? Savita, a resident of Amravati District in Maharashtra, had contracted leprosy in 2010, when she was 15 years old. Due to lack of awareness, she delayed her treatment. The Leprosy Mission hospital in Kothara treated her until she was completely cured of leprosy.

Within few years, her life took another difficult turn when she was forced to marry a person with intellectual disability, because she was not getting a groom due to stigma of leprosy in the community. With no agricultural land to their name, working as a labourer was the only option. After several people refused to give her husband a job, a landlord offered him work for a meagre INR 100 per day for 28 days a month. Savita, being a frail woman, could not do any laborious job and hardly contributed to the household income. At the same time, surviving was becoming difficult. No help came their way!

The team from The Leprosy Mission’s Jaagruti project reached out to the couple in 2019. Over the last three years, the team linked the couple to various government schemes, including MGNREGA, but they did not get regular work. The team also helped them access BPL Ration Card, disability pension and apply for housing scheme. Savita’s husband now receives a pension of INR 1000 per month. Savita also applied for the pension schemes.

Besides facilitating these linkages, the team also focused on creating a sustainable livelihood option for them so that they gain financial independence and hence, social acceptance. They trained them on goat farming, and later gave them five goats. Savita has found a new purpose in her life. She is committed to her enterprise, and already on track to earn INR 100,000 per year from her goats.