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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched January 1983Verified: 2026-10-12

National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)

National health programme providing free Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT), disability prevention reconstructive surgery, and welfare allowances to leprosy patients.

Audited by Eligo Public Policy Research Desk•Official Gazette & Nodal Portal Verification•Read Verification Standards →
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Official Nodal Portal:nlep.nic.in
Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Health and Family Welfare
Beneficiary Sector
Applicable Jurisdiction
All India

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Complete elimination and patient welfare package: (1) 100% free WHO-standard Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) at all primary and community health centres; (2) Free Reconstructive Surgery (RCS) with ₹12,000 cash incentive per surgery to compensate for wage loss; (3) Provision of specialized micro-cellular rubber (MCR) footwear and self-care kits for anesthetic feet/hands; (4) Monthly financial assistance to severe grade-II disability patients; (5) Contact tracing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with single-dose Rifampicin.

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

Administered under National Health Mission (NHM) National Disease Control flexipool

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

Treating and curing over 60,000 leprosy patients annually across all endemic districts

As of: 2026-01-31PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:No specific age restriction
Annual Family Income Ceiling:No gross income ceiling specified
Target Occupations:Citizen, Leprosy patient, Person affected by leprosy
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:all
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

Any person diagnosed with paucibacillary (PB) or multibacillary (MB) leprosy. Services and reconstructive surgeries are completely free for all citizens.

📄

Required Documents Checklist

Verify readiness before applying for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). Check off your papers or print this list before visiting your local CSC / Cyber Cafe.

Mandatory Documents(2)

Check off as ready
💡

Keep self-attested photocopies and clear digital scans (100 KB – 200 KB, PDF/JPG format) ready to avoid portal upload timeouts.

🛡️Civic Research Desk • Rejection Prevention

Worried About Application Rejection for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)?

Over 30% of applications on official portals get delayed or rejected due to minor certificate authority mismatches or unseeded bank accounts. Our civic research desk compiles a verified 1-page Scheme Blueprint tailored to your state and profile.

  • ✓Valid issuing authority rules (Tehsildar/SDM)
  • ✓Aadhaar-DBT bank seeding verification
  • ✓Direct official portal guide (no middlemen)
  • ✓Email delivery in 1–2 hrs during desk hours
Civic Research Fee:₹49One-time
Get Scheme Blueprint (₹49)→

🔒 Secure Razorpay Checkout • 100% Independent

Application Effort & Process Friction

Readiness assessment derived from official prerequisites, mandatory documentation, and submission channels.

Easy to Access (1/10)
•Hybrid process (online application + physical verification)
•2 mandatory document required

Effort scores reflect portal accessibility, mandatory document burden, and physical verification requirements.

How to Apply

🌐 Online Portal Route
🛡️
Government Application Safety Advisory:Application for this welfare program is processed exclusively on official government infrastructure (nlep.nic.in). Never pay registration charges or advance processing fees to unauthorized third-party agents. Central and State welfare scheme applications do not require paying private intermediaries.
  1. 1

    Active case detection campaigns (ACDS) conducted door-to-door by ASHA workers, or walk-in at any PHC/CHC.

  2. 2

    Medical Officer diagnoses pale/red skin patches with loss of sensation or thickened nerves.

  3. 3

    Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT blister packs) dispensed immediately free of cost.

  4. 4

    Enrolled on the Nikshay/Nikusth national leprosy management portal.

  5. 5

    Patients with deformities referred to authorized surgical centres for free reconstructive surgery and RCS incentive transfer via DBT.

✅Before You Begin — Pre-Application Checklist

✓Ensure Aadhaar is linked with active mobile number
✓Bank account is NPCI-mapped (Aadhaar-seeded) for DBT
✓Check if you already receive a similar Central scheme benefit
✓Keep documents ready: income/caste/domicile certificates as applicable

⚠️Common Rejection Reasons — Avoid These

Non-applicable; all patients suspected of or diagnosed with Hansen's disease receive immediate free treatment.

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: nlep.nic.in

Apply on official government website
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Verified Guidance

Expert Application Tips & Practical Advice

Field-tested recommendations from administrative grievance circulars to avoid rejections and processing stalls.

1
processTo apply for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), initiate your application on the official portal at https://nlep.nic.in. Verify procedure: Active case detection campaigns (ACDS) conducted door-to-door by ASHA workers, or walk-in at any PHC/CHC. Confirm all personal and bank details align with departmental records before final submission.
2
documentsFor National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), keep clear and legible scanned digital copies of mandatory documents (Hospital OPD Card / Nikusth Patient Registration ID, Aadhaar Card and Bank Account Passbook (for RCS financial incentive)) ready in PDF or JPEG format within prescribed portal size limits before starting your application on https://nlep.nic.in.
3
common mistakesA frequent cause of rejection under National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) is submitting mismatched personal details between Hospital OPD Card / Nikusth Patient Registration ID and your Aadhaar record, or providing an unseeded bank account. Verify active NPCI/DBT bank mapper linkage and valid certificate numbers on https://nlep.nic.in.
4
trackingAfter successfully submitting your application for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), securely save your permanent Application Reference Number (ARN) or digital acknowledgement receipt. Use this reference number on https://nlep.nic.in to track scrutiny, verification, and sanction milestones.

Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

Is leprosy completely curable?

Yes, Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) completely cures leprosy within 6 to 12 months, and patients cease to be infectious after the very first dose.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

What financial incentive is provided for reconstructive surgery?

Patients undergoing reconstructive surgery receive ₹12,000 directly via DBT to cover loss of wages during the post-operative recovery period.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

What is MCR footwear?

Micro-Cellular Rubber footwear is specially designed soft footwear provided free to prevent foot ulcers in patients with loss of sensation.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Who is eligible to apply for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)?

Eligible applicants must satisfy official government criteria for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP). Conditions: Any person diagnosed with paucibacillary (PB) or multibacillary (MB) leprosy. Services and reconstructive surgeries are completely free for all citize.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Can I track my National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) application status?

Application status for National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) can typically be tracked through the official portal at nlep.nic.in using your Aadhaar number, application reference number, or registered mobile number. Alternatively, contact the scheme helpline or visit your nearest Common Service Centre (CSC).

What should I do if my National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) payment is delayed or rejected?

First, verify your Aadhaar-bank account seeding status on the NPCI mapper (npci.org.in). If seeding is confirmed and payment is still pending, register a complaint on the Central Public Grievance Redressal System at pgportal.gov.in. You may also file an RTI application at rtionline.gov.in to obtain official rejection reasons within 30 days.

Is there an income tax implication for receiving National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) benefits?

Agricultural income and certain welfare subsidies may be exempt from income tax under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tax treatment varies by scheme type and beneficiary income level. Consult a certified tax practitioner or visit incometax.gov.in for scheme-specific tax guidance.

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Non-applicable; all patients suspected of or diagnosed with Hansen's disease receive immediate free treatment.

Editorial Verification & Change Log

Scheme verification and change history
DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-10-18scheme_typecsOfficial Source ↗
2026-09-21initial_verificationBaseline verification of NLEP free MDT treatment, ₹12,000 reconstructive surgery incentive, and Nikusth portal management.Official Source ↗

⚖Compare with Similar Schemes

Side-by-side eligibility, benefit, and effort comparison:

Application Window & Deadlines

Continuous free testing and treatment at all public health facilities

Scheme Intelligence

How is this calculated? ↗
Data ConfidenceFully Verified (95%)

Verified 7d ago from .gov.in source

Access FrictionEasy to Access

Apply online with minimal documents

How to Apply🔀Online & In-Person
Scale & Impact
👥Treating and curing over 60,000 leprosy patients annually across all endemic districts (as of 2026-01-31)
₹Administered under National Health Mission (NHM) National Disease Control flexipool budget allocation
📅Running since 1983
🔄2 verified updates — actively maintained

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📅Scheme Milestone Timeline

2026-10-18scheme_type

cs

Official Source ↗
2026-09-21initial_verification

Baseline verification of NLEP free MDT treatment, ₹12,000 reconstructive surgery...

Official Source ↗
⚡

Schemes You Can Stack With This

Complementary programs with non-conflicting eligibility that you can claim concurrently:

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)₹6,000 (annual)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U / Housing for All)₹2,50,000 (one-time)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G)₹1,20,000 (one-time)✓ Open to all genders · Overlapping profile match
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY / Ujjwala 2.0)₹1,600 (one-time)✓ Overlapping profile match

Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

Central Leprosy Division, Directorate General of Health Services, MoHFW

Nirman Bhawan, Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110011

Helpline: 011-23062485

Jurisdiction: National (All-India)

Notice a Discrepancy?

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-10-12 against official government documentation.

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