The men who have lost their limbs need special care and the Indian Army has launched another joint venture with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti!
The message is clear, everything is temporary, almost like a passing phase, some of laughter and some of pain! Just move on in life and the help will arrive!
‘Gods made a huge biscuit factory in Kashmir. We got the broken ones. Anyway they are still crisp and sweet as far we are concerned’!
-‘On 27 November 2012 we made a £1m gift to Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti in Jaipur, India (also known as the ‘Jaipur Foot’). The gift was an endowment to support the ongoing work of the organisation in making and fitting prosthetic limbs free of charge, and to support the work of the Paul Hamlyn International Research Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
-‘Jaipur Foot works to support disabled people, particularly the poor, enabling them to regain mobility and become self-reliant and fully participating members of the community. Since its inception in 1975, Jaipur Foot has helped rehabilitate more than 1.3 million people, making it one of the largest organisations supporting disabled people in the world.
-‘Sudha Chandran, an Indian actress and dancer, lost her limb in an accident in 1982. She was fitted with the Jaipur Foot and started dancing once again; her journey is the theme of the Telugu 1984 film Mayuri (Peahen), re-made into a 1986 Hindi film, Naache Mayuri (Peahen Dancing). Both the films starred Sudha as the lead.
-‘For over an era thw Samiti has been changing people’s lives, helping them stand on their feet. Now the Jaipur Foot itself is poised to get a leg up. Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (bmvss), an ngo that makes the famous life-like foot, is collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation (isro) to improve the prosthesis by using new technology and material.’
-‘These people who are disabled with non functional limbs do at times curse themselves as they say in their musings in solitude that the body as home, but only if it is understood that bodies are never singular, but rather haunted, strengthened, underscored by countless wounds, some have problems from birth itself and some due the grievous njury later in life!’
-‘But now they have a hope. Kashmir is a great place to be when you are healthy, it is a horrendous place to be when you see a few with disappointment on their faces trying to force a smile on their faces, yet cannot.But now something could have been planned for them in yet another great initiative by the Indian Army!
-‘Partnering the Indian Army in this mega initiative was Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti.
-‘Artificial Limb Camps were held at Pattan, Kupwara, Uri and Budgam from 06 to 19 Oct 21. A final camp was organised on 16 Nov 21 at BB Cantt. Total over 1100 beneficiaries were enabled through the initiative!’
By: M S Nazki
Mendhar
-‘There’s nothing worse than seeing these guys living life as it should be with a hope that they could also walk like the others do artificial limbs!’
I. Some details and facts regarding Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti-BMVSS:
* It is a Jaipur-based non-profit organization, founded by D.R. Mehta in 1975.
*It is the world’s largest organization for the handicapped in terms of fitment of artificial limbs, calipers etc., providing them with artificial limbs, calipers, crutches, ambulatory aids like wheelchairs, and other aids and appliances totally free of cost.
*The main objective of BMVSS is the physical and socio-economic rehabilitation of the physically disabled, especially the resource-less, so they may lead a life of dignity and become productive members of the community.
* It also conducts scientific and technical research in developing and improving aids and appliances for the physically challenged and also organizes workshops and seminars for dissemination of knowledge and expertise related to the manufacture of such products.
II. The Jaipur Foot:
This artificial limb has helped many victims of mine blasts in war zones and on LOC where accidental mine explosions cannot be ruled out!
*BMVSS uses the Jaipur Limb technology, developed in India, which is the world’s most functional limb technology. The features of the limb or the Jaipur Foot, made through this technology, include:
*The Jaipur Foot has virtually got the same range of functions as the normal human limb
* It looks like a normal limb. It is waterproof, It may be worn with or without shoes.
* The normal life of the Jaipur Foot is around 3 years. It has both the contact socket and the outer socket The above-knee prosthesis is of highly advanced ischial containment variety.
*While making the limb, the proper bio-mechanical alignment is ensured. It is really a quick-fit limb. For example, a below-knee prosthesis can be made in three hours.
*It is lightweight. For example, for a middle-sized person the socket with belt and Jaipur Foot, the total weight of a below-knee limb varies between 1.3 kg and 1.5 kg
III. Tremendous achievements:
Beginning with a very modest fitment of 59 artificial limbs in 1975, BMVSS is now fitting about 20,000 artificial limbs and about 30,000 Polio Calipers, and other aids and appliances every year in its centers and through mobile camps in India and abroad.[8] The foreign countries that it has served include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nepal, Pakistan, Somalia,Tanzania, Sudan, etc. BMVSS received the National Award for the best institution working in the field of Rehabilitation of the Disabled in 1998 from the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In the following years, it received awards including Mahavir Award for the philanthropic services and welfare of the Handicapped, the Tech award for Innovation for the benefit of humanity, and Dr PK Sethi Award Innovation Award.
The good work continues as the foundation and the Indian Army keep distributing hope to distressed people! Hopefully now they will never get the broken biscuits! They do hold a little sadness in their eyes, but they don’t feel the sorrow because life is all about surviving and getting on with it!
