Community Wide DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) is an integrated approach to control leprosy in India. It is significant in the following ways:

• It focuses on early case detection to prevent deformities and disabilities caused by leprosy.
• Community Wide DOTS helps in providing Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) to patients with leprosy regularly, which reduces the risk of relapse.
• It helps in reducing the spread of infection by identifying and treating patients with leprosy along with contacts of patients.
• Community Wide DOTS also helps in reducing the stigma attached to leprosy by creating awareness about the disease and its treatment.
• The approach also promotes the involvement of the community in the prevention and treatment of leprosy.

In conclusion, Community Wide DOTS plays a crucial role in controlling the spread of leprosy in India. The approach takes a holistic approach to prevent, identify and treat the disease and conveys information to the community to reduce the stigma associated with the disease.