Financial Services

The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI) works to ensure that people affected by leprosy/disability, and their families, have equal access to financial services to support the development of their economic and other activities and improve their standard of living. TLMTI, through its Sustainable Livelihood Programme facilitates formation of self help groups (SHGs) of persons affected by leprosy/disability. The SHGs are given training in livelihood activities and the members of SHGs are encouraged to save and internally lend the savings to members during times of need. Their capacity is built in administration and financial management.

TLMTI advocates for equal access of people affected by leprosy/disabilities to mainstream financial services. It helps groups identify financial service providers and entrepreneurs with leprosy/disabilities as potential clients. It sensitises financial service providers on the needs of people affected by leprosy/disability and their right to be included in financial services. It also educates people affected by leprosy/disability on how to approach a financial service provider and what to expect when it comes to services and obligations. The main aim of these services is to give people affected by leprosy an opportunity to become self-sufficient by providing a means of livelihood, saving money, borrowing money, and insurance. Most of the SHGs establish small businesses through these micro-financial services.