Durga Lal Fought Leprosy And Now Needs Your Help To Feed Many Other Patients

“For the last 4-5 years, my brother and I have been working for the upliftment of hundreds of families with leprosy in Prayagraj. Every day in their lives is a struggle for the bare minimum. To make things even more difficult, these people face constant discrimination from society to this day. My heart breaks when I see them suffer like this,” - Durga Lal, Allahabad Navnirman Kusht Rogi Ashram. 

Durga Lal has been living in the Allahabad Navnirman Ashram for the last 45 years. Born to leprosy parents, and having been a leprosy patient once, Durga Lal spent his childhood in the ashram. He has seen how difficult the life of these patients can get from close quarters. That is why he always wanted to help others with a similar fate. 

An auto driver by profession, Durga Lal spends his free time feeding the less fortunate

Durga Lal and his brother, Ramesh, work very hard to feed the residents of the ashram. There are about 1000 people in the ashram out of whom around 500 suffer from leprosy. Durga Lal arranges daily food for these people. During the day he drives an auto and at night, he teaches the children of leprosy patients for free.

“People don’t understand that leprosy can be cured, and their behavior towards the patients will bring tears to your eyes." I too have suffered from the disease, but now I have recovered. These people can, too. But they are forced to beg on the roads for two square meals a day. Simple tasks like holding a spoon or going to the bathroom are so difficult for them. I try my best to give them a comfortable life a life where they don’t have to worry about their basic needs on a daily basis. "They're no less than family to me.” 

Leprosy is a bacterial infection that affects the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose. It spreads through months of close contact with someone who has leprosy - mostly through coughs or sneezes. This is unlike the common belief that the disease spreads instantly when one is near a leprosy patient. But awareness regarding this disease is still very low, especially in small towns and villages. To make things worse, the disfiguration and sores on the skin scare people away, leaving the patients no choice but to beg on the streets for food.  

With the help of kind donors and his own savings, Durga Lal has been continuing his work. Now, he needs your support 

“They look up to me for support; they have no one else." I wish to continue feeding them - even during the pandemic, we didn’t stop our service. But it is getting difficult to do it on our own now. We need your support so that we can help many more in need.

Durga Lal and his brother are requesting you to please donate groceries so that they can feed the residents of the Ashram. Every donation you make will bring back the smiles on the faces of hundreds of leprosy patients. 

About the NGO: Based out of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, the Navnirman Kusht Rogi Ashram is home to hundreds of leprosy patients who have no one to care for them. Durga Lal and his brother have been feeding them nutritious meals for the last few years. They want to give these patients a better life.