SPARSH ("the healing touch"), a joint initiative of Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) and LEPRA Society, have treated close to 8000 leprosy patients. The referral Centre was established to provide specialised health care services, thereby improving the quality of life of people and empowering them to be self-dependent.
Since its inception, Tata Steel’s existence has grown to be based on the vision that in a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business but is, in fact, the very purpose of its existence. It is this vision of Tata Steel that manifests itself to focus on providing health services and improving the quality of lives of the people. SPARSH Project is aimed at providing dedicated services to the patients suffering from Leprosy, which is also regarded as a social stigma. In the current project period a total of 7993 cases catered at the OPD unit for counseling and treatment, out of which 3034 were female cases. 37 patients were referred to higher institutions for Reconstructive Surgery out of which 21 were such where RCS was conducted.
Speaking on the specialised services of Sparsh which has provided the humane touch to thousands of lives, Biren R Bhuta, Chief, CSR, Tata Steel Ltd said, "SPARSH as an organisation is focused on improving the lives of people who suffer from Leprosy, which bears a social stigma even today. Under this initiative, we are organising several awareness programmes for early case detection, regular treatment and to avoid discrimination in the community for the patients. The collaborative efforts of District Leprosy team, Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) and LEPRA society have helped in reaching out to thousands and we are confident of reaching out to a larger society and empower the leprosy patients to lead a self-sustained life.”
SPARSH has been instrumental in treatment of the leprosy patients at large. Apart from the advance treatment facilities SPARSH has distributed 1837 pairs of protective footwear, 9226 pairs Grade I footwear which has reached out to states like Assam, Uttrakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. These unique multi-cellulose rubber footwears are not easily available across the country and many states in India take help from the SPARSH initiative in procuring these specialised footwear. Apart from the treatment provided, SPARSH also empowers the patients to be self-efficient by engaging them in activities like painting, handkerchief- and doormat-making.