Rehabilitation of Leprosy Afflicted Persons (LAPs), a programme to rehabilitate the leprosy affected persons, was started in the year 1988 by Revered Swami Tapasyanandaji Maharaj. Over the last 20 years 1000 affected persons have been rehabilitated. Our aim is to make sure that these people are integrated back into the society. We have formed 10 Self Help Groups with 100 members. The SHG’s meet on second Saturday of every month.

   At present Dr. Gunashekaran, Kings Institute, Chennai, along with his team of doctors is conducting the P.O.D camp with Amnion method on every Saturday to heal the ulcers and to regain the lost sensation. We are able to see improvement in healing ulcers and some patients are regaining sensation. If the regaining of sensation in extremities is achieved, it would be a great milestone in Medical Science.

The Road to Rehabilitation:

• About fifty LAPs were benefited by Cataract Surgery performed by the Sankar Nethralaya Eye Hospital.
• We have so far helped 60 LAPs to get registered with the Tamil Nadu Handicapped Welfare Board. We have helped about 60 LAPs to receive pension from the District Collectors of Chennai and Kancheepuram. But still we are unable to get pension to all LAPs due to disability percentage fixed by Tamil Nadu Social Welfare Board.
• We have helped about 40 LAPs to get free Bus passes.
• We have helped 15 LAPs who are unable to undertake any job, to get provisions worth about Rs. 1500 per month from Udhavum Ullangal, a charitable organisation based in Chennai, for the past six months.
• As the LAPs are often forced to change their residences in view of the antipathy of the owner, we have helped 10 members of the SHGs to get house allotment in Chemmanchery through the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.
• The LAPs are being given training to produce simple household items like soap powder, phenyl, teddy bear, manufacturing chains etc.,
• We are conducting sports meet annually for the LAPs and their family. We are also helping them to participate in the sports meet being conducted by the Tamil Nadu Handicapped Federation.
• We are sponsoring the education of the children of LAPs.
• Eighteen children of LAPs are undergoing Nursing Assistant Training so that they may get Government job.