To celebrate the return of The Leprosy Mission’s Wellesley Bailey Awards and our 150th anniversary year, our judges have chosen four winners whose work in the fight against leprosy deserves recognition.
Maya Ranavare from India is one of these winners, and her story is one of triumph.
Maya's Story: A True Leprosy Champion
Maya was born in a leprosy colony to a mother with leprosy, and she herself was diagnosed with leprosy at the age of six. Because of her visible leprosy symptoms, Maya faced discrimination throughout her childhood, was denied an education and struggled to find a job. Leprosy shaped her early life in a profoundly negative way, but she never lost her fighting spirit.
When social workers Suresh Shipurkar and Dipak Devlapurkar visited the leprosy colony where Maya lived, she was inspired by their stories about leprosy champions who had overcome the challenges of the disease. Their mentorship and support started her on the path to become an advocate for the rights of leprosy patients.
Since then, Maya has worked with the organisation Kusht Pidit Sanghatana to secure maintenance allowances for more than 3,000 people affected by leprosy. She has become a mentor for livelihood projects with the Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation and Bajaj Foundation. She is also Chairman of Sakshi Vikas Sanstha and President of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL).
Maya has fostered strong relationships with local administrators and political leaders, advocating for civil amenities to raise the quality of life in leprosy colonies. Her efforts have improved colony residents’ access to education, healthcare and social protection services.
Today, Maya runs awareness programmes in schools and colleges to help debunk common myths about leprosy. She also uses social media to spread awareness and change the public perception of the disease. She participates in national and international conferences, and is a relentless advocate for the rights and dignity of those affected by leprosy. She is the perfect example of what the Wellesley Bailey Awards stand for.
About the Wellesley Bailey Awards
The Wellesley Bailey Awards were established in 1999 and are given to recognise those who have made significant contributions to society by overcoming the stigma and challenges of leprosy. The award celebrates the life and work of Wellesley Bailey, who founded The Leprosy Mission in 1874.
The four winners of the 2024 Wellesley Bailey Award will be invited to join The Leprosy Mission at our 150th Anniversary Celebration in New Delhi this month.
References:
1. The Leprosy Mission announces Wellesley Bailey Award winners 2024. Leprosy Mission International. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.leprosymission.org/blog/the-leprosy-mission-announces-wellesley-bailey-award-winners-2024/.
2. Maya Ranavare: Wellesley Bailey Awards Winner 2024. Leprosy Mission International. Accessed October 22, 2024. https://www.leprosymission.org/leprosy-champions/leprosy-champions/wellesley-bailey-award-winner-maya-ranavare-india/.