Organization Name:
Saksham Kushthantey Swabhimani Sanstha (SKSS)
(The Organisation of-for-by Kushthanteya, the Person Affected by Leprosy)
Society Reg. No.:
Chandrapur/000235/2019 (The Societies Registration Act 1860),
Public Trust Reg. No.:
F-0015152-CDP (The Mumbai Public Trust Act 1950)
Date of Establishment:
05-12-2019
Motto:
Achieve. Leprosy Free. World.
End. Lepraphobia. Together.
Vision:
SKSS will strive towards an inclusive society ‘Free from Fear of Leprosy’ and ‘Zero Discrimination’ towards persons affected by leprosy and their family members wherein they live equitable / dignified life in par with other fellow citizens.
Mission:
Empowerment of Persons Affected by Leprosy to overcome / counteract to correct the rights violation and contribute to the development of society as responsible citizen.
Objectives:
Empowerment of persons affected by leprosy living in the community
Promoting human rights of persons affected by leprosy and protection from rights violation.
Contributing to National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) through reducing disease burden among persons affected by leprosy living with disability.
Genesis of SKSS
‘Saksham Kushthanteya Swabhimani Sanstha (SKSS)’ in the local Marathi language literally means “Pride Organization of Empowered Persons Affected by Leprosy” is an organization of-for-by the Persons Affected by Leprosy, established during the process of empowerment of people affected by leprosy under human rights based project (2016-2018) in Chandrapur & Gadchiroli districts in Maharashtra state by ALERT-INDIA, a Mumbai based supporting organization.
During the process of empowerment, Regional Advocacy Forum (RAF) and Block Advocacy Cells (BAC) represented by community members including people affected by leprosy, through community mobilisation, sensitized 5,500+ persons affected in the local communities to form ‘Right Holders’ Self Help Committees (RHSHC). In 2017, 1,000+ persons affected by leprosy formed 181 village and sub-block level RHSHCs in eight blocks of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts with prime objective to address the issues of rights violation due to prejudices and discriminatory attitudes and social behaviour against persons affected and their family members.
As a strategy, Regional Advocacy Forum (RAF) and Block Advocacy Cells (BAC) resolved to transfer the ownership of RAF and BACs to persons affected by leprosy. Thus, Self Help Committees of right holders assumed responsibility of advocacy forum by establishing ‘SKSS’, as a registered entity in 2019.