Walking with dignity: LEPRA Society

New Delhi, 11 October- For many people affected by leprosy, every step has long carried the burden of stigma and pain. For years, countless men and women walked long distances without access to the specialized footwear they need to protect their feet, prevent recurrent ulcers and live with dignity. Today, that reality is beginning to change, as health workers, communities, and organizations such as the LEPRA Society work together to bring practical solutions and restore hope.

This year, LEPRA Society has been recognized with the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award for Public Health Champions (2025) in the institution category, in honour of its exceptional contribution to public health in the areas of neglected tropical diseases and disability. The award is a tribute not only to an organization but to the resilience of the community it serves.

Leprosy patients with specially designed custom footwear by LEPRA Society (Photo credit LEPRA Society)

Since its founding in 1989, LEPRA Society has walked alongside people affected by leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases. From small beginnings, it now reaches across nine states and 143 districts of India, through 146 health centres that provide essential services in some of the most underserved and remote corners of the country. Its work has always gone beyond treatment, embracing compassion, innovation, and deep respect for human dignity.

"We don't just treat leprosy patients for ulcer care or physiotherapy, we restore dignity," said Arun Kumar Kandukuri, Head Programmes, Resource Mobilization and Communications at LEPRA Society. "For over 35 years we have combined community-first models with compassion and innovation. Sometimes, a smartphone and a photograph are all it takes to change a life."

One of the most powerful examples of this approach is Project DiMPLE (Digital Measurement for Paduka, (a simple yet transformative solution that reimagines how protective footwear is made for people affected by leprosy. For years, patients endured long journeys to clinics where technicians manually measured each foot. The process was often time consuming, prone to fitting errors and costly for patients already living with stigma and limited resources.

Foot measurement being taken for special footwear (Photo credit: LEPRA Society)

Customized footwear is not available in the open-market, and for people affected by leprosy, it is not a luxury but a necessity. Because ulcers and deformities alter the shape of the feet, no two feet are alike, even the right and left foot of the same person can vary. Carefully crafted, made-to-order footwear can prevent recurrent ulcer and worsening of disability.

With DiMPLE, those challenges are being overcome. Using a mobile app built on the KoboToolbox, an open-source platform designed for field data collection in low-resource setting, high-resolution images of the patient's feet and soles are captured with just a smartphone camera. These images, along with measurements and patient details are instantly uploaded to a central database. Skilled technicians then design and craft customized footwear with far greater accuracy, reducing errors and the need for repeat visits. For those unable to travel, the finished footwear is packaged and delivered directly to their homes, reaching even the most corners of the country.

A technician uses the foot measurements along with photographs to craft custom footwear (Photo credit LEPRA Society)

For a patient from Telangana, India, who has been living with leprosy for more than a decade, this innovation has been lifechanging. "During my initial visits, they (LEPRA Society) took my foot measurements to make customized footwear. Now I am unable to visit the centre regularly, so whenever I need footwear, I contact the Nallakunta team over the phone and they deliver it to my doorstep. The footwear has given me a lot of relief. It has better cushioning, and when I wear it, I don't feel pain, and my ulcers have reduced. I am truly thankful to LEPRA Society for their continuous support," he said. His experience captures how technology and compassion combine to restore mobility, ease pain, and renew confidence.

A recipient of the customized footwear made by the LEPRA Society, (Photo credit LEPRA Society)

First piloted in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states in India, the project quickly demonstrated its potential. In just a short time, nearly 1 000 pairs of customized footwear were produced and distributed, significantly improving mobility and quality of life for patients. For many, the relief was immediate, fewer ulcers, reduced pain, restored movement and perhaps more importantly, renewed confidence and dignity.

"The DiMPLE project is not just about technology, it is about empowering lives," says Arun Kumar Kandukuri. "It has broken barriers of distance, cost and time, delivering protective care at scale and with dignity."

LEPRA's impact extends far beyond protective footwear and leprosy. Over the years, the organization has contributed to addressing tuberculosis, HIV, lymphatic filariasis, and even COVID-19, while continuing to provide physiotherapy, reconstructive surgery, socio-economic rehabilitation, and mental health support. It has also nurtured peer support groups and self-care training models that enable people to heal not only physically, but emotionally, breaking stigma, restoring confidence, and bringing hope back into communities.