The major problem faced by people affected by leprosy in Indonesia is the stigma and discrimination from the society. Stigma and discrimination has led to the existence of people affected by leprosy as a marginalized group who do not have adequate access to the sources of public services which include an economic resource. Due to having experience living with leprosy, many members of PerMaTa must face the termination of employment or they are shunned and ostracized by some members of society so that they are unable to perform social and economic activities as appropriate, e.g. trade or sell food in public areas. This is because the strength of belief in the community that leprosy is an infectious disease is not curable and the disease is a curse to be avoided.

Permata Indonesia is an organization that concerns on improving quality of life of people affected by leprosy and their families. To realize this purpose the Permata Indonesia provides a scholarship program to members of PerMaTa and their family. The scholarships are given to members of PerMaTa who still interested to continue their education and less capable in terms of financing. Scholarships are also given to the children of members of disadvantaged Permata’s members who wish to pursue their higher education.

Permata Indonesia as an organization of people afferted by leprosy in Indonesia focused its program on advocacy of the rights of people affected by leprosy. In order to improve knowledge and skills of PerMaTa members in the field of policy advocacy in the May 2010, PerMaTa Indonesia organized Training of Public Policy Advocacy in three cities of East Java; Kediri, Lamongan, and Gresik. The training was attended by 20 members of the PerMaTa in each city.

On May 5, 2010 Permata Indonesia conducts multi-stakeholder meeting in the district of Sampang  Madura. The meeting were held at the Village Hall and attended by 35 participants consist of representatives from Community Health Center, a District Headman, Apa'an village headman, the head of the Social Service of Sampang District, Head of the Sampang District Health Office, and members of PerMaTa in Sampang.

On the occasion, chairman of PerMaTa Sampang, Achmad Zaini said that the meeting was intended to find solutions and to overcome the social problems faced by people affected by leprosy in the district of Sampang. He submitted also that the general socio-economic life of people affected by leprosy in Sampang is very worrying. Many of them are not working and live in a very low level of education. Mr. Zaini expects at the end of the multi-stakeholder meeting was no agreement and cooperation among all relevant parties to enhance the welfare of people who have had leprosy in the district of Sampang.