From Begging To A Dignified Livelihood

Set up under the WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy elimination Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, The Sasakawa India Leprosy Foundation (SILF) has been striving for the integration of leprosy cured people and their families into society by ending the stigma and discrimination faced by them. Each year SILF recognizes three of the best livelihood initiatives of groups living in leprosy colonies across India with the ‘Rising to Dignity Awards’. And winners of the awards this year are inspiring examples of the hard work of Leprosy affected people in making a transition from begging to a dignified livelihood. And they have managed to send out a strong message to the broader society that given a chance leprosy affected people too can become productive members of the society. Meet the winners.

CoirRope Enterprise, Shantidan Colony, Khurda, Odisha

This all-women’s enterprise makes coir ropes. Getting started with the project itself was not easy as they faced a lot of discouragement particularly from the men folk who were convinced that, being women, they would not be able to run the project on their own. After facing many more hurdles in setting up the unit and as a result of sheer perseverance against all odds, today the enterprise is well established and profitable, producing more than 50 kgs of rope daily. The pride that the women have in their work shows in their confidence and smiles as they go to work in their bright yellow saris – a uniform that they have chosen for themselves. Not only is the enterprise fully managed by the women themselves, they have even learnt how to do minor repairs of the machines themselves and no longer waste time waiting for the mechanic to show up. What is even more inspiring is that these women have started “mentoring” a similar project in a nearby colony. Having helped themselves they are now helping others. It is not surprising that the earlier skepticism of their menfolk has been replaced by respect and admiration.

Multiple Enterprise, Nireekshana Colony, Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari (district), Andhra Pradesh

This group comprising men and women who are middle aged or elderly and many of them suffer from physical disabilities. This has not, however, hampered their motivation. The group opted for a multiple enterprises-based project wherein they each took up a different economic activity in accordance to their choice and based on their previous experience and skills including dairy farming, cycle rickshaw pulling, carpentry and petty trading. Today this multiple business project is in its fifth year. It is running profitably and has become self-sustaining. The group has been able to achieve this as a result of their diligent and efficient working style, which has included holding regular meetings to keep a track of progress for each business and by sharing and learning from each other’s experiences. They have regularly followed instructions from their association and abided by community decisions. Their biggest success they say is moving into a dignified and self-respecting means of earning their livelihood. This project is now moving on to the next level, with new members joining the group.

Goat Rearing, Jhajpadia Colony, Belpahar, Odisha

The 13 members of this group were all dependent on begging for their survival. In March 2012, SILF provided funds for the purchase of goats. In the two and a half years since, this group has through their dedication and hard work, made a great success of this opportunity. Not only have they increased the number of livestock from 39 to 60 but, in the intervening period they have also sold goats to earn a decent and stable income. They have learnt to manage the enterprise such that they have a steady income from the sale of goats – a remarkable achievement for a group which had no prior experience in this field. Drawing from their guidance, other leprosy affected people in the colony have ventured into other forms of livelihood like running a mini bus service for school children, pig rearing and agriculture-based initiatives.The dignity and economic success has brought with it a general sense of awareness of better standards of living in the community. There is a distinct change in the colony infrastructure in the form of cemented pavements, boundary walls, clean drinking water, kitchen gardens, neat houses and ‘earning’ families. Unity among themselves has given them the confidence to approach the civic authorities for the provision of basic services.