As a prelude to 21st International Leprosy Congress (ILC)-2022, SAKSHAM Savita jointly with Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai conducted a 2 days Preconference Workshop on “Basics of Leprosy: Challenges and Solutions” for Volunteers and Voluntary Organizations serving LCDPs on 7th and 8th November, 2022. The goal of the workshop is to build the capacity and network the expertise across the nation to address the multifaceted challenges of leprosy by providing country specific solutions. More particularly, the workshop is aimed to implement Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) through training volunteers and Service organizations and to support the Government to implement effective rehabilitative measures benefitting LCDPs. Sessions on basic facts about leprosy, socio-economical, medical, rehabilitative and legal challenges and how to overcome these challenges by solutions were deliberated in the workshop through interactive sessions between delegates and experts.
In the workshop event, SAKSHAM-Savita Awards were given to achievers including a LCDP personality. SAKSHAM-Savita Life Time Achievement award went to Shri Bimal Kumar Jain for his services for LCDPs and his efforts to repeal various discriminatory acts against LCDPs. Shri Madhavan, who himself is an LCDP, was awarded for his contribution of services to LCDPs especially performing obsequies for more than 100 unclaimed deceased LCDPs and his other services to LCDPs. Several resolutions were made in this workshop and submitted to the Govt of India on addressing the challenges of LCDPs.
Shri. Ananta Nayak, Member of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was the Chief Guest and Dr. Ananth Reddy, Chief Administrator of Sivananda Rehabilitation Home, Hyderabad, Swami Bodamayanandaji Maharaj, President of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad and Dr P.Narasimha Rao, The Organizing Secretary of ILC-2022 and the President of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Veneriologists and Leprologists were the Special Guests of the event. Swami Bodamayanandaji delivered a benedictory address during the inaugural event. A souvenir was released at the event. The workshop was attended by about twenty experts, sixty volunteers and eight service organizations in the field of leprosy across the nation.