The Leprosy Mission Trust India

The Leprosy Mission was founded in 1874 as "The Mission to Lepers" by Irishman Wellesley Cosby Bailey, in Ambala, India. In 1973, The Leprosy Mission Trust India (TLMTI) was registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. TLMTI is the largest leprosy-focused non-governmental organisation in India, headquartered in New Delhi.

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The organisation works with people affected by leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), people with disabilities, and marginalised communities, especially women. TLMTI's vision is people affected by leprosy living with dignity in a transformed, inclusive society that has overcome leprosy.

Headquarters: New Delhi - 110001

Major Areas of Work

• Healthcare: Providing specialised leprosy care, disability prevention and management, dermatology, general medicine and surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and ophthalmology services to persons affected by leprosy and NTDs.

• Sustainable Livelihood: Delivering institution-based, job-oriented technical skills training, employment support, financial services, and social protection for affected individuals.

• Community Empowerment: Working with persons and communities marginalised due to leprosy through community mobilisation, disabled people's organisations, education, political participation, self-help groups, and women's empowerment.

• Advocacy: Addressing the development needs of people affected by leprosy through policy-level advocacy and public campaigns.

• Research: Conducting multidisciplinary, multicentre research across laboratories and hospitals to advance leprosy diagnosis, treatment, and care.

• Training: Building capacity within the medical and public health community to sustain leprosy elimination progress.

Major Initiatives & Programmes

• Partnership with NLEP: Working under the guidance of the Central Leprosy Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, TLMTI has adopted nine high-priority, high-endemic districts to accelerate leprosy eradication efforts.

• Stanley Browne Research Laboratory: A research facility that has pioneered chip-based NAAT testing through Truenat, supported by ICMR, to improve leprosy diagnosis beyond traditional Slit Skin Smear testing.

• Snehalayas (Residential Care Homes): Four residential care homes providing long-term support for elderly persons affected by leprosy.

• Customised Protective Footwear: Providing MCR footwear and assistive devices to prevent disability progression among leprosy-affected individuals.

• Vocational Training Centres: Six centres offering job-oriented skills training to help affected individuals achieve sustainable livelihoods.

Impact (2025)

TLMTI conducted 1,00,495 leprosy consultations, treated 8,261 new leprosy cases, and identified 1,225 new cases. On disability, the organisation conducted 1,063 reconstructive surgeries, provided 11,850 other disability services, and distributed 18,918 MCR footwear and assistive devices. On discrimination, TLMTI provided 67,599 counselling sessions, supported 533 people with livelihood generation, and developed 248 leprosy champions. The organisation operates through 15 hospitals, six vocational training centres, four residential care homes, nine community empowerment projects, and a research laboratory, spread across 9 states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The Leprosy Mission Trust India is an excellent fit for professionals passionate about public health, disability care, community empowerment, and medical research who want to contribute to eliminating leprosy as a public health issue in India.