LEPROSY REHABILITATION PROJECT 2003-2004

Working for Leprosy patients is not merely medical relief rather it is transforming their frustrated life into the joy of dedicated personal ambition selflessly. If you can transform the life of a patient change his values of life, you can change the village and the country.

TITLE OF THE PROJECT

Rehabilitation of leprosy patients through promotion of agricultural production and other income generating activities in leprosy home at Muthalamada panchayat in Palakkad.

Sector and sub-sector covered by the project:

Sector. Agriculture, goat rearing, vegetable gardening
Sub-sector: Health and hygiene, micro-credit for income generation, housing, social development.

Project area:
Mudalamada Panchayat :Kuttipadam, Mabalam, Pallam, Meenkara, Pudur, Govindapuram, Parambikulam, Attayampathy, Chammanampathy, Thunakadavu,  Veliyachall, Vellamada, Kambrathchalla, Kadamkurissi, Pothampadam, Pothampadam, Parakulam, Njandankizhaya.

Technical Assistance: Provided by the Women India Association in Agriculture engineering, animal husbandry and horticulture

OBJECTIVES: Development Objectives:

• To create alternate to idling and an opportunity to earn income by way of agriculture and allied actives.
  
• To create viable income alternatives to begging for leprosy-affected patients living in villages
  

Immediate Objectives:

• Increase awareness about the importance of nutritious food and hygiene.
  
• Improve skills in relevant agricultural practices and off farm activities in homes.
  
• Improve infrastructure for agriculture and construction of shed/home.
  
• Facilities income generating actives in colonies

Summary:

A viral disease stigma, illiteracy, poverty, frustration all these formed the canvass on which the “HIV/AIDS Rehabilitation Project” had to operate and ultimately transform. Despite the different (scattered) location in which the HIV/AIDS patients live, consider themselves not a part of the same socially ostracized community.

Therefore a partial coverage of the affected community would have created ill will amongst them, which in turn, would have derailed the implementation of the projects objectives. The diversified nature of the problem called for a multi-pronged strategy- the focus being the conversion of the sections of society into a ‘productive’ class and their integration with the mainstream populous. All related issues of hygiene, health, nutrition and corresponding facilities were also brought into the scope of this project, so as to make it holistic.

The Main Objectives of the Project are:

• Construction of permanent shed for HIV/AIDS patients;
  
• Creating awareness among society, young couples and bachelors;
  
• Creating/improving the appropriate practice of using condoms and medicines;
  
• Increasing awareness of good nutrition and improving facilities for health and hygiene living;

The strategy evolved to tackle all these issues was designed keeping in mind skeptical attitude of the beneficiaries. This key hurdle tackled through intensive counseling sessions and personal interaction of the project director and staff. An exercise that took both patience and time. Once this is done, a social economic & ability survey conducted to determine the physical ability and aptitude levels of the targeted beneficiaries, based on which the major activities will be planned and executed.

An important input of the project is its emphasis on training since the HIV/AIDS cared residents in homes had very few skills and low educational levels. A mixing indiscriminately among sexes in mutual contact. Apart from these, counseling and awareness creation on nutrition, health and hygiene related aspects will be undertaken duly during the project period.

Funding of the project:

The project was also able to attain voluntary contributions from several donors to supplement the activities undertaken. Apart from this, the successful working of micro-credit in the colonies led to the formation of women based self-help groups.

• People can be motivated – it only requires patience and understanding.
  
• People do not want to beg – if given alternative opportunities fitting their aptitude/skills.
  
• Micro-credit facility has proved to be successful in the upliftment of the downtrodden rather than doles and sympathy.
  
• Success breeds further success – thus spawning a self–perpetuating mechanism.
  

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

Major activities identified:

In Homes

• Land based development activities like soil conservation etc.;
  
• Development of ground water resources and irrigation;
  
• Agricultural and related activities;
  
• Setting up of dairy, poultry and animal husbandry;
  
• Other off-farm income generating activities like petty trade etc.;
  

Major constrains Identified:

• In agriculture and related activities;
  
• Degraded and arid land;
  
• Poor water resources;
  
• Unpredictable monsoon;
  
• Construction of shed for the leprosy patients who do not have any relations;
  

In General:

• Special aptitude of project beneficiaries;
  
• Low skill / educational levels;
  
• Deformities resulting in reduced physical capacity;
  
  

FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE PROJECT   Recurring Expenditure (in Rs.)

LIST OF LEPROSY PATIENTS: