FIA in association with Jaipur Foot USA organized two Artificial Limb Fitment camps at Hyderabad and Tirupati on 11 and 13 Jan 2023. The camps were part of the celebrations of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav marking 75 years of India’s Freedom. The Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra and Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale inaugurated the Artificial Limb Fitment camp in Hyderabad (Telangana, India) on Wednesday, January 11, 2023. Also present at the occasion were Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari, FIA President Kenny Desai, FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya, FIA Jt. Treasurer Mahesh Dubal and Bihar Foundation Chairman and coordinator for the event Alok Kumar.
Taking its philanthropic commitment to ensure physical, economic and social rehabilitation of the disabled JaipurFoot USA, in association with the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), has organized Artificial Limb Fitment camps in Hyderabad and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh, India). The fitment camps saw over 200 beneficiaries registered through the online mode and many more reaching the camps directly for spot registration.
Minister Ramdas Athawale lauded the efforts of Both Jaipur Foot and FIA for organizing the camps in which over 1000 artificial limbs will be provided to the needy. This he said supports the vision of the Central Government which is committed to empowering the disabled.
Speaking at the occasion Prem Bhandari said the parent organization BMVSS has conducted camps all over the globe and over 2 million people have benefitted from it – and the number continues to grow.
Mr. Ankur Vaidya said that the aim is to provide over 1075 artificial limbs free of cost and it is a duty of every overseas Indian to help and support such ventures as much as possible.
Echoing the conscious effort and hard work put in place by JaipurFoot USA and FIA, Athawale said, “There are about 2 crores 60 lakh disabled people in the country. They are working hard to help all of them on behalf of their government.”
The two-city fitment camps saw their inauguration at Hyderabad where it will be held for a day. However, the Tirupati camp will run for 10 days providing artificial limbs to as many people as reach while the camp is one.
JaipurFoot USA is a subsidiary of Bhagwan Mahaveer ViklangSahayata Samiti (BMVSS) which is working an undivided approach to provide prosthetics or artificial limbs, calipers and other physical aids and appliances, free of charge, to as many disabled people as possible through its centers, outreach programs and rehabilitation camps, both in India and abroad.
Since its inception in 1975, JaipurFoot has successfully helped over 2 million (2006,150) people with artificial limbs, calipers, crutches, sticks, splints, braces, tricycles/wheelchairs, supplying hearing aids and financial as well as operational help in surgeries.
The founders of JaipurFoot USA Prem Bhandari along with Festivals of Joy Founder Suma Kanakala, Avinash Roy and well-known producer Abhishek Aggarwal were present as guests and explained the support provided by their organizations to the disabled. During the event, Prem Bhandari handed over financial assistance to a child who had lost one of his arms for transportation expenses to get an artificial limb.
The fitment camp was also supported by People’s Media Factory, People’s Tech, Festivals of Joy under the leadership of the People Tech organization.
Speaking on the occasion, People Tech Organization head Vishwaprasad thanked the Minister of State Ramdas Athawale, JaipurFoot USA, representative of FIA.