Parliament Question: Rehabilitation of Abandoned Person affected by Leprosy

Government of India Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No- 3919 TO BE ANSWERED ON- 17/03/2026 REHABILITATION OF ABANDONED PERSON AFFECTED BY LEPROSY 3919. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE: Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether it is a fact that persons affected by leprosy constitute a separate social group as they are often ostracized by society due to their disease; (b) if so, the measures being taken by the Government to build confidence among such persons and facilitate their reintegration into the mainstream of society; and (c) the welfare initiatives being taken by the Government for rehabilitation of such persons who have been abandoned even by their own family members? ANSWER Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment (SHRI B L VERMA) (a) to (c): The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), administered through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, offers Disability Prevention and Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) services to persons affected by leprosy, including self-care training, dressing materials, supportive medicines, Micro-Cellular Rubber (MCR) footwear, and free reconstructive surgeries with welfare allowance for eligible patients to compensate for loss of wages. Persons affected by leprosy completing the Multi Drug Therapy under NLEP do not require isolation in the community. Awareness Programs are conducted by social media and electronic media to minimise the social stigma for the leprosy affected persons. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, "leprosy cured person" has been specified as a category of disability under Schedule to section 2(s) as a separate category ofdisability under the broad category of Locomotor Disability. Under the Act, the appropriate Government and local authorities are mandated to take measures for comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with disabilities including leprosy cured persons in the fields of health, education, among others. Leprosy Cured Persons with benchmark disabilities are allowed reservation in higher studies and government employment, as provided by Section 32 and 34 of RPwD Act. Additionally, free education upto 18 years of age, skill training etc are also available to them as specified under the Act. In addition, Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities provides grant-in-aid to implementing agencies for projects aimed at rehabilitation of persons with disabilities to help them achieve optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric and socio-functional levels. There are eight model projects under the scheme, one of which provides for the rehabilitation of leprosy cured persons (LCPs) with options for home-based and community-based rehabilitation. *****