Introduction The National Leprosy Eradication Programme is a centrally sponsored Health Scheme under the National Health Mission of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The Programme is headed by the Deputy Director of Health Services (Leprosy ) under the administrative control of the Directorate General Health Services, Govt. of India. While the NLEP strategies and plans are formulated centrally, the programme is implemented by the States/UTs. The major concern of the Programme is to detect cases of leprosy at an early stage and provide complete treatment, free of cost, in order to prevent occurrence of Grade II Disability (G2D) in affected persons. India has achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem as per WHO criteria of less than 1 case per 10,000 population at the National level in 2005. However, there are few districts within States where leprosy is still endemic. Government of India also launched the National Strategic Plan (NSP) & Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-2027) on 30th January, 2023 to achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027 i.e. three years before the Sustainable Development Goal which is by 2030. Vision “Leprosy-free India” is the vision of the NLEP. Objectives The Government of India has launched National Strategic Plan (NSP) & Roadmap for Leprosy (2023-27) on 30th January, 2023, to achieve zero transmission of leprosy by 2027 i.e. three years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3. The NSP and Roadmap contains implementation strategies, year-wise targets, public health approaches and overall technical guidance for the programme. The strategy and roadmap focuses on awareness for zero stigma & discrimination, promotion of early case detection, prevention of disease transmission by prophylaxis (Leprosy Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and roll out of web-based information portal (Nikusth 2.0) for reporting of leprosy cases. Elimination of Leprosy i.e. Prevalence of less than 1 case per 10,000 population in all the blocks / districts of the State. Early case detection without deformity. Strengthen Disability Prevention & Medical (DPMR) of Persons affected by Leprosy. Reduction in the level of Stigma associated with Leprosy. Strategies for Leprosy elimination in India Strengthening of integration for leprosy services through General Health Care system. Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC), Active Case Detection and Regular Surveillance, both in rural and urban areas, through ASHAs and Frontline Workers in order to ensure detection of leprosy cases on regular basis and at an early stage in order to prevent Grade II Disabilities. Leprosy screening has been integrated with Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) for screening of children (0-18 years). Leprosy screening has been integrated with the activities of comprehensive primary health care under Ayushman Bharat Yojana for screening of people above 30 years of age. Contact tracing is done and Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is administered to the eligible contacts of index case in order to interrupt the chain of transmission. Strengthening of Disability Prevention & Medical Rehabilitation (DPMR) services. Information, Education & Communication (IEC) & IPC activities in the community to improve self-reporting to Primary Health Centre (PHC) and reduction of stigma. Intensive monitoring and supervision at all levels. Reconstructive Surgeries (RCS) are conducted at District Hospitals/Medical Colleges/ Central Leprosy Institutes, and welfare allowance @ Rs 12,000/- is paid to each patient undergoing RCS. Milestones in NLEP 1955 - National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP) launched 1983 - National Leprosy Eradication Programme launched 1983 - Introduction of Multidrug therapy (MDT) in Phases 2005 - Elimination of Leprosy at National Level 2012 - Special action plan for 209 high endemic districts in 16 States/UTs 2014 - Upgraded Simplified Information system implementation 2016 - Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 2017- 2019 Active Case Detections Campaigns (14 days) in high endemic districts Focused Leprosy Campaign (FLC) in low endemic districts ASHA Based Surveillance for Leprosy Suspects (ABSULS) Grade II Disability Epidemiological Investigation Implementation of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (administration of Single Dose of Rifampicin) Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaigns Introduction of NIKUSTH - A real time leprosy reporting software across India 2019 External Evaluation of NLEP by World Health Organisation Convergence of leprosy screening with Comprehensive Primary Health Care programme of Ayushman Bharat, to screen 30+ years population at HWCs Convergence of leprosy screening with Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) to screen children (0-18 years) at Anganwadi Centers and Govt. schools 2020 Active Case Detection and Regular Surveillance (ACD&RS) guidelines rolled out. Further, with a view to scale up the screening, leprosy has been converged under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) for screening of children (0-18 years). Besides, population based screening of women and men of age 30 years and above has been included in Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Bharat at the Health and Wellness Centres. 2021-22 Prevalence rate has decreased to 0.41per 10,000 population in 2020-21. Annual New Cases Detection Rate has declined to 4.58/100000 in 2020-21 Child cases percentage among new cases detected has reduced to 5.76 % in 2020-21. Percentage of Grade 2 Disability among new cases detected has decreased to 2.48 % in 2020- 21. The G2D amongst new cases per million population is decreased to 1.14 per million population in 2020-21. 2023-24 Revised classification of Leprosy & treatment regimen for PB & MB Cases in India as adopted by MoHFW, GOI is introduced by Central Leprosy Division on 17th January 2024 & shall be implemented in all States/UTs from 1st April 2025. This treatment Regimen for leprosy patients will mark significant step forward in our collective efforts to eradicate leprosy in India by 2027. 25 Seconds AIR media plans for Leprosy campaign was rolled out in Coordination with Central bureau of Communication (CBC) in theseven highly endemic states (Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha) from 16th February, 2024 to 9th March, 2024. Implementation of tagging system for PVTGs within Nikusth 2.0 Portal for total of 17 states, as listed in Tribal Cell, which have been identified as having Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) within their states under PM-JANMAN. 2025 Revised treatment implemented across India - In 2023, India revised the classification and treatment protocols for leprosy in alignment with WHO recommendations. The updated protocol has been officially implemented nationwide from April 1, 2025. A 3-drug MDT regimen (Rifampicin, Dapsone, and Clofazimine) is now used for both PB and MB cases, enhancing uniformity and operational efficiency across public health facilities. The revised classification also emphasizes early detection based on lesion count and nerve involvement to minimize delays in treatment initiation. Leprosy declared a Notifiable Disease Institutions Four premier Leprosy Institutes are working under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & F.W., Government of India viz. CLTRI, Chengalpattu, RLTRI, at Aska, Raipur and Gouripur are involved in research (basic and applied ) in Leprosy and Training of different categories of staff involved for Leprosy elimination. These Institutes also play important role in management of referral patients, providing quality care to chronic ulcer and disabled patients with the help of Minor & Major Reconstructive Surgeries. These Institutes also help in supervising and providing consultancy services to the State NLEP Units for better programme planning and implementation. Central Leprosy Teaching & Research Institute (CLTRI) Chengalpattu (Tamil Nadu) The Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute (CLT & RI), Chengalpattu was established in 1955 by the Government of India by taking over Lady Wellington Leprosy Sanatorium establish in 1924. Later, in 1974, Govt. Of India had made CLT & RI as a subordinate office of the Directorate General Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare with an objective to provide diagnostic, treatment and referral services to leprosy patients , trained manpower development for leprosy, control/elimination, beside research on various aspects of leprosy and its control. It has separate wings of Epidemiology and statistics, Clinical, Medicine, Microbiology and Biochemistry laboratories with Animal House Facilities, Surgery and Physiotherapy. This Institute caters services to both indoor and out patients. The hospital has a bed capacity of 124 patients. To know more, visit https://cltri.gov.in/ Regional Leprosy Training & Research Institue (RLT&RI) Raipur, Chhattisgarh RLTRI, Raipur establish in the year 1979 with the aim to provide training research and treatment for the leprosy affected persons. To know more, visit http://rltrird.cg.gov.in/ Regional Leprosy Training & Research Institute (RLT&RI) Aska, Odisha Establish the year 1977, the Institute has a 50 beded hospital and works as a referral center for management difficult to diagnose leprosy cases and problematic, complicated and intractable cases of reaction and ulcers. Surgical procedures are carried out regularly and RCS (reconstructive Surgery ) camps have been done in the past . It also works as a nodal training and research center for the cause of leprosy elimination. Regional Leprosy Training & Research Institute (RLT&RI), Gouripur, Bankura (West Bengal): The Institute was established in 1984. The institute is located at a village named Gauripur which is well connected with the district town bankura (12 Kms), Kolkata city (240 Kms) Durgapur town (56 Kms) kharagpur Jn. (130 Kms). Source: Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India