After Bal Kumari's son died there was no one to care for her. Though cured of leprosy, she had a club foot and damaged eyes and suffered rejection from fellow villagers.

Dambar Aley recalls visiting the old lady.

      ‘She was unable to close her eyes because the tears didn’t come regularly. She had a small infection from ash blowing into her eyes when she cooked. We gave her eye drops. But one week later her eyes were badly infected.’

Bal Kumari was sent to hospital where one eyeball then the other had to be removed.

Living 10 km away from Lalgadh Leprosy Services Centre, Bal Kumari was one of its most vulnerable patients.

She is now one of the first to benefit from the newly built Care Haven situated on land next to LLSC. With others she now lives in sheltered accommodation, cared for by a warden appointed by LLSC. 

Proximity to LLSC means that the medical needs of residents like Bal Kumari can be monitored closely.