Vikas Kumar (13), the son of daily wage earner Bhola Hadi and Meera Devi and a resident of Baniahir in Dhanbad, had to leave the government school where he was studying after being diagnosed with leprosy three years ago.

He is now ready to rejoin school and realise his dream of becoming a teacher after a reconstructive surgery at the new hospital of eight-year-old leprosy care centre Sparsh - a joint venture of Tata Steel and LEPRA - at Jamadoba.

Vikas is among the first batch of eight patients treated at its new 10-bed hospital since its launch on May 24. Others are Kedar Sharma (49), Saurav Kumar (22), Baiju Kumar (20), Chigu Ravidas (29), Sweety Kumari (18), Pradeep Kumar (22) and Rahul Kumar (17). All are set to be discharged on Thursday

"Vikas was detected with leprosy during one of our camps," said Lal Babu Singh, co-ordinator of Sparsh. Singh added that Vikas was admitted to Sparsh on May 24 for a reconstructive surgery of his right hand with a clawed finger.

"He ran away from the hospital a day before surgery in fear and had to be brought back after a lot of coaxing," Singh said.

A wide grin has replaced Vikas's fear. "I am very happy today. I can study again to realise my dream of becoming a teacher," he said.

There are others who are embracing a new life. Resident of Banka in Bihar, Saurav Kumar was suffering from leprosy-induced drop foot for over three years and had been referred to Tata Steel Rural Development Society (TSRDS) centre in Jamadoba by his district's leprosy department for reconstructive surgery.

"I left studies for two years after completing my UG Part I because of the stigma attached to the disease. I was depressed but life is slowly changing after the operation at Sparsh. I am planning to resume studies," he said.

Set up in 2009, Sparsh centre has treated 13,330 people at its OPD. It detected 221 new cases of leprosy, treated 437 patients with ulcers and addressed health complications of 250 people. Its shoe unit has distributed 3,889 protective footwear among patients.