In 2013 there were 216,000 new cases of leprosy diagnosed and treated worldwide with more than half of these in India. Despite India becoming an increasingly prosperous country, there remains a huge gulf between rich and poor with 500 million people – a third of the world’s poor – living in Indian slums. Leprosy is a disease of poverty and not only does it affect the poorest of the poor but age-old stigma surrounding the disease sees people affected by leprosy cast out by their family, friends, employers and community. Even the beggars shun those displaying leprosy-caused disabilities.