Help these women live like humans

“The moment they come to know that I live in a leprosy colony, they treat us like we are not humans, not like them, even if we do not have signs of the disease. But we also have feelings, desires and dreams. If we had some skills, for which we can be respected, then may be, our address won’t matter,” says a resident of a leprosy colony in Durgapur.

While Gender discrimination is not new in India, women residing in the Leprosy colonies face double deprivation due to existing societal stigmas - limiting their opportunities in livelihood, access to education, healthcare, etc. Though Leprosy is thought to have been eradicated from India, it still reports the highest global caseload. Further, the ostracisation, due to existing myths, family members, especially women, who are unaffected by the disease also face deprivation and lack dignity.

Often women from these colonies avoid meeting people and working out, as society sees them differently. Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India, working in one of these colonies of Durgapur, has identified a lot of women who fear verbal and physical rejection from people.

Twenty-three-year-old mother, Rani Oraon, who is a rag picker, adds, “Our lives slipped away picking garbage, but if we get a chance, support and guidance, may be our children won’t be rag pickers anymore.

The men are pre-dominantly engaged in begging, and rag-picking. Women on the other hand are tasked with the job of taking care of the household, or begging, with few women venturing outside the colonies to look for a job, as care-giving is a primary job, even when they themselves suffer from health issues. Due to limited earning options, women fail to contribute and thereby are at a disadvantageous position to access basic necessities.

At CAF India, we are working with leprosy-affected colonies across West Bengal, in providing skill-based education to the youth. As a next intervention, we are now aiming on skilling the women of one such colony in Durgapur, West Bengal with Beautician courses, along with handling finances and entrepreneurship to equip them with market appropriate skills. Given the limited opportunities the course will help them to earn and build their business at their own time, gain confidence and contribute financially.

After Your contribution to this campaign will support 15 women from Leprosy colonies to get back their lost dignity, and directly contribute to the financial well-being of the family.

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