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Origin

In response to the national call by our former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi to NGOs and public-spirited people to take up leprosy elimination work, Dr.A. R. K. Pillai, the Founder President, gathered a few Samaritans and founded Indian Leprosy Foundation.  The Foundation was registered as a Charitable Trust under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and Bombay Public Trusts Act of 1950. The important purpose for which Foundation was formed is summarized below:

  • To be a national NGO with focus on leprosy/ TB elimination work
  • To be a self-supporting NGO.
  • To be supported by willing and voluntary donations from the public.
  • To share its major resources with leprosy/ TB/ education Projects by giving annual grants to network with NGOs/ Projects.
  • To strengthen awareness about leprosy/ TB through its own staff and volunteer teams, use mass communication channels and erase social stigma.
  • To work hand in hand with Union and state health authorities and Municipal Corporations
IDF has over 100 Associate leprosy/ TB Projects spread over the country and they do all aspects of treatment and rehabilitation free of cost and without any discrimination whatsoever. 

Our Field Teams and Volunteer teams have been focusing on schools, colleges and community groups to give leprosy awareness talks.