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Govt of India to implement global best practices for inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act), which came into force in April 2017 provides various rights and entitlements to persons with disabilities. It mandates, among other things, the Central and state governments to implement global best practices for inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

A silent social change in Uttar Pradesh

“It was always my dream to teach grown-up people, especially women, because I felt women should have access to education as it empowers them to live on their own. That’s why I was thrilled when The Leprosy Mission Trust India’s (TLMTI) WEALTH project asked me whether I could teach women in the adult literacy class the project was planning to start in my village. Before my association with TLMTI, my identity was that of a daughter-in-law and I was confined to the four walls of my home. If I had to go out, someone from my family had to accompany me,” shares Pushpalata while introducing herself.

The will that paves the way

“I do not mind if my boys do not get higher education but I want my girls to be educated and well qualified”, Saroj Kumari shares her thought with conviction. 32-year-old Saroj, mother of 2 young girls and 2 young boys lives in Rasoolpanah village of Fatehpur Block in Barabanki district, Uttar Pradesh. She comes across as someone with strong leadership abilities.

Ganesh Muthusamy – an empowered, passionate ‘leprosy champion’ who is leading the fight against leprosy

Recently, in the State-level Leprosy Coordination Committee meeting in Tamil Nadu, chaired by Dr Ashraf Ali, Additional Director (Leprosy), Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, Mr Ganesh Muthusamy, a leprosy champion developed by The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI) gave the first-person experience of disabilities in leprosy and how leprosy stigma, disability and discrimination affects even educated persons affected by the disease. He spoke about the need for timely diagnosis and treatment of cases before nerve damage sets in to prevent disability, as leprosy is a leading cause of permanent physical disabilities among communicable diseases.

TLMTI’s impactful women empowerment initiatives in Uttar Pradesh

The Leprosy Mission Trust India’s WEALTH (Women Empowerment through Advocacy, Livelihood Training and Health) project, based in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh is doing a commendable job in empowering women from rural communities in Uttar Pradesh.