Lok Sabha Question No. 3919 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Rehabilitation of Abandoned Person affected by Leprosy
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

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  of disability  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.

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