Rebuilding Houses of Hope for Leprosy Cured Persons at HATIBARI health Home at Sambalpur

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Published on Tuesday, 08 February 2011 01:10

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ebuilding Houses of Hope for Leprosy Cured Persons at HATIBARI health Home at Sambalpur BISWA initiative towards socialisation of leprosy cured persons:

“Tens of millions of people suffer not only from leprosy as a disease which is scientifically and medically proven to be curable and manageable, but also from political, legal, economic or social discrimination and isolation as a result of misunderstanding and indifference, and lack of legislative or administrative measures to prohibit such discrimination and to protect and remedy the victims.”
It's a new life for them. Until yesterday, they were looked down upon by their neighbours who considered them as cursed souls. None in their respective localities desired to even glance at their shadows. But today they are rubbing shoulders with the same people at workplaces such as agricultural fields, handloom centres, poultry farms, vegetable gardens and handicraft centres. The leprosy cured persons at Hatibari Health Home - A Rehabilitation Centre located in natures cradle, nearly 25 kms from the western town of Sambalpur in Odisha, India, have today rediscovered themselves today in a new and yet different world.
This is because of the efforts of BISWA, the organisation that has been tirelessly working for the rehabilitation and reintegration of these people through multiple socio-economic interventions.
Founded by Padmashree Dr. Isaac Santra in the year 1951, the home came under the management of Hind Krustha Nibarana Sangha and District Administration of Sambalpur after the sad demise of the founder. Towards strengthening the process of rehabilitation they handed over the charge of the home to BISWA. BISWA's action that makes difference among the inmates is as follows:

• Leprosy neuritis clinic
• Self-care training
• Skill Development Training
• Production Unit
• Micro Finance linkage
• Micro Marketing linkage
• Rehabilitation and Reintegration with their family and the society

Initially when the organisation started its intervention, the inmates were not in a mind set to go out of the house, so the 1st task was to develop self confidence among them by engaging them in livelihood promotion activities. The organisation supported them with small farming and manufacturing units training them on agriculture, cloth weaving, sisal work, candle making, & toy making etc.

The Micro-enterprises development project implemented by BISWA (in 560 Acer of forest land) is now playing a vital role in socialization of the leprosy-cured persons. Those working in different production units including handloom weaving, candle making, sisal work & get wages around Rs.350 to Rs.500 a month. Besides BISWA has also appointed its staff to monitor and supervise the project at Hatibari. BISWA has established three SHGs among the women inmates there and among the women of Santrapalli (120 acre of land from 560 acre). The member regularly holds meetings and other awareness programmes. The total rehabilitated persons are 205 in HHH.

Not satisfied with their present income the inmates are now asking for wages at par with general workers. In the words of Dr. K. C. Malick, “when the inmates start demanding for wages at par with others in the outside world it gives me immense satisfaction. I feel that our sincere effort in building the self confidence, awareness generation and process of reintegration has helped us in mainstreaming them.

Take an example of LaxmidharPradhan of Boudh. He looks after the agricultural activities. Utilising big ponds in the project area has helped the inmates to grow huge quantity of cabbage, cauliflower, brinjal, tomato and paddy this year.

The pisciculture ponds, papaya, mango, guava, cashew and lemon orchards spread of several hundred of acres of land offer a perfect opportunity to the inmates to work in dignified way and lead a decent life.

After keeping aside the required quantity of agricultural produce for use of the health home, the rest is sold in the market. The earning from agricultural produce for use of the health home, the rest is sold in the market. The earning from agriculture activity is slowly and yet steadily increasing ever since BISWA took over from HKNS in the year 2003 and it is going to be one of the best self sustaining models of rehabilitated persons.

The organisation pays Rs. 1.75 lakh lease money per annum to the state government for a total of 563 acres of land under the possession of Hatibari Health Home. “The total earning from different economic activities carried out in the centre by October 31st 2009 was recorded at Rs. 1.87 lakh, indicating that days are not ahead when the centre would attract the world attention as a viable economic model run by leprosy cured persons,” says Mr. Kulamani Dash, Program Manager, BISWA.
Very recently the District Magistrate and Collector, Sambalpur-Mr. Hemanta Kumar Dash visited the Home to have a practical knowledge of the day to day affairs in the home. He was moved by the warm welcome by the inmates and praised the efforts of BISWA. He also suggested for some new initiatives for the economic empowerment of the inmates.