Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Vikalang Sahayata Samiti changing lives of Divyangs
| Date :05-Mar-2020 |
By Rajendra Diwe :
“One... two... three... start..” with these instructions, a man with his both artificial legs started running across the pandal. This was the miracle witnessed by number of participants, guests, patients and other citizens at the premises of MLA hostel on Wednesday attending ten day mega Divyang rehabilitation camp. “My name is Jitendra Singh Kushwah. I belongs to Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh. I have no legs, but it is a miracle in my life that I can run with the help of Jaipur foot. Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Vikalang Sahayata Samiti has changed my life.
The Samiti had not only given me new life but also gave me a job in the manufacturing of Jaipur foot and other aids for the differently abled persons,” says Kushwah with tears of happiness in his eyes and with the sense of self respect. Like Kushwah, Shree Bhagwan Mahaveer Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) from Jaipur, the world’s largest organisation for handicapped established in 1975 has brought smiles on the faces of 18, 29,156 persons across the country in last 44 years. The Samiti has also given a chance to lead dignified life to 32,778 persons in 40 countries. National Legal Services Authority, New Delhi; Maharashtra State Legal Service Authority, Mumbai; Bhagwan Mahaveer Vikalang Sahayata Samiti Jaipur and Mahaveer International, Nagpur had jointly organised ten day Divyang rehabilitation camp at MLA Hostel premises. The camp was inaugurated at the hands of CJI Sharad Bobde on Sunday.
One could remember the Hindi Movie Nache Mayuri which was released in 1986. The Hindi movie was the remake of original Telugu film Mayuri which was released in 1984. The movie was based upon the real life of Sudha Chandran, a talented classical Bharatnatyam dancer who in 1981 survived a car crash that required her right leg to be amputed.
Despite the enormous setback, she was able to get a prosthetic lower leg and continued to pursue her passion for dance. Like Sudha Chandran, about 18.60 lakh persons across the globe had changed their lives. This means in last 44 years Bhagwan Mahaveer Vikalang Sahayata Samiti Jaipur has changed the lives of 41,571 persons per year; 3,464 persons per month and 116 persons per day. What a grand performance? Bhagwan Mahaveer preached, “Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings. In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. The most important principle of environment is that you are not the only element. Do not deprive someone of his livelihood.”
“BMVSS founded by Devendra Raj Mehta is constantly working on these principles of Bhagwan Mahaveer. This world’s largest organisation for the disabled with its headquarters in Jaipur was started in 1975 by D.R. Mehta, who, after meeting an accident; faced the risk of amputation. He started this organization keeping in mind the economically and socially backward classes; to not only give them freedom from disability but also from their socio-economic conditions, ” informs Narayan B Vyas of BMVSS from Mumbai. “Till, September 2019, BMVSS had distributed artificial limbs to 6,15,135 persons, calipers to 4,68,298 persons; crutches, sticks, splints, brace etc. to 5,32,764 persons; tricycles and wheel chairs to 1,39,957 persons; hearing aids to 65,530 persons, surgeries of 7,472 persons across the country through its different 23 centres for free of cost,” Vyas adds. Vyas states, “The process to get a prosthetic limb is very simple and comfortable for patients.
The first step is to get a registration of the patient, after which a doctor is referred to him who advises the kind of prosthetic to be used. The patient is then taken to the Measurement and Mould Modification room where a cast is made through the use of plaster of Paris (POP). The cast is shaped to look like an actual limb and then shifted to the Prosthetic section where it goes through several processes until it is finally fitted. The patients are then instructed on how to walk on steep surfaces and stairs.” Pramod Wankhede from a village Matoda in Arvi Tehsil in Wardha district had lost his leg. He says, “I am a diabetic and got a gangrene. My leg was amputed. Then I came to know about this camp. I had registered my name and today, I got a new leg.”
With the happiness and satisfaction on his face, Wankhede took steps with his new leg. Bahrulal, a maker of Jaipur foot tells, “After taking measurements and requirements of artificial limbs, a cast is made through the use of plaster of Paris (POP). The cast is shaped to look like an actual limb and then shifted to the Prosthetic section where it goes through several processes until it is finally fitted.” Jaipur Foot, prosthetic limb was invented in Jaipur in 1968. This has been a game changer in the orthopedic field and is the most widely used prosthetic foot till now.The journey of Jaipur foot began when three doctors from SMS hospital realised that the artificial limb (foot) from America and Germany did not fit the needs of Indian population.
The foot did not support the common Indian, who would walk barefoot, sit cross legged, squat and work on uneven land. 70% of India was involved in agriculture and these prosthetics would never sustain the work done by farmers who had lost their limb. Thus began the journey of Jaipur foot. Jaipur foot began as a combined effort of Dr P.K Sethi and sculptor Ram Chandra Sharma. They along with Dr Mahesh Udawat and Dr S C Kasliwal worked on developing artificial limbs. Sculptor Shri Ram Chandra Sharma, the man who gave hope to many people, with the creation of Jaipur foot is the real hero behind this miracle. The journey from an idea to an actual prototype had a lot of hurdles but with a skilled craftsman like Ram Chandra Sharma the three doctors achieved a favorable outcome. The alternative prosthetic, designed by him, proved to be a success as it was cost efficient, waterproof, and more flexible and contrary to other prosthetics, this one gave the appearance of actual foot.
Justice Deshpande visits camp On the third day of Divyang rehabilitation camp, Justice Ravi Deshpande, Administrative Judge, Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court along with his wife Meenakshi Deshpande visited the camp. Chief District and Session Judge and President of District Legal Services Authority, Sanjay G Mehere; Administrative Manager and Secretary of High Court Legal Service Sub Committee of Nagpur Bench of Bombai High Court; Anju Shende; Secretary of District Legal Service Authority and Senior Justice, Abhijeet G Deshmukh also visited the camp. Justice Ravi Deshpande discussed with the physically challenged persons benefitted through this camp.
Beneficiaries get 1,210 artificial limbs, other equipment in 3 days Mahaveer International Nagpur is a co-organiser of this ten days camp. Chairperson Madhu Sarda said, “During the camp, they we will be distributing to Divyang persons artificial limb, hand, tricycle, wheelchair, calipers, hearing aid machine, walking stick for blind, walking stick for old people, crutches, shoes and belt.” “In the last three days, 1,210 artificial limbs and equipment including 148 artificial legs, 232 calipers, 115 tricycles, 100 wheelchairs, 142 crutches, 347 hearing aids, 10 blind sticks, 16 artificial hands, and 100 other sticks were donated to the beneficiaries,” she added. A wheel-chair and a caliper was donated to Mrunal Yadavrao Meshram from Wadi by Mahaveer International on this occasion. Savita Sancheti, Immediate Past President; Bharat Parekh, Honourary Secretary; Nitin Tatiya, Vice-Chairman; Sanjay Jain, Treasurer; Sunita Surana, Project Director; Archana Javery, Chief Project Co-ordinator; Shiv Agrawal, Project Director, Atul Kotecha and other office-bearers and members of the organisations are working hard to make the mega camp successful.
