These people can walk again

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Mahadev Singh, an advocate from Vellore, heaved a sigh of relief after coming to know that he could walk again without having to use crutches. Singh never dreamt of getting the much-needed support from Bengaluru. He did, thanks to a limb camp organised by Rotary Bangalore Peenya of RI District 3190 in association with Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayatha Samithi, Jaipur.

“I stopped my two-wheeler when one of my friends sought a lift. I waited for him to come near my two-wheeler but within a few minutes, people rushed me to a nearby hospital for treatment. A speeding water tanker hit my vehicle seriously injuring me. My right leg was shattered into 25 pieces,’’ recalled Singh, adding that he came to know about the limb camp through a friend.

Siddanna S, a year-old boy, is not able to go to school as he lost his right leg in a road accident five years ago. “Doctors at Victoria Hospital fitted an artificial limb, but they now have told me to replace my old artificial limb at this camp as there is a manpower issue. I am glad to have artificial limbs here,’’ said Siddanna.

Zareena Begum from Turuvakere visited the camp earlier this week. “It is the third time that I am replacing the old artificial limb with a new one. I am not sure whether I will go home tonight, but prefer to stay here tonight and go home tomorrow. They made arrangements for food and other amenities,’’ said Zareena Begum.

Organisers of the weeklong (March 21 to 27) mega limb camp distribute artificial limbs, callipers for polio affected and forear ms to beneficiaries free of cost. The beneficiaries can just walk in to the camp armed with a copy of Aadhaar card and Covid vaccination certificate.

“We are happy to associate with Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayatha Samithi to help the deserving for years. Free lodging and boarding is provided for outstation beneficiaries,” said Rtn GR Vasanth Kumar, Chairman – Limb Camp, Rotary Bangalore Peenya.

“These low-cost artificial limbs are made of durable quality and last long. It provides a new lease of life to the amputees,” he added.

“This is the 24th Annual Free Mega Limp Camp conducted by us in which we expect around 2,500 people to benefit. Last time, we gave away limbs, callipers and forearms to 2,202 people,” added Rtn Nataraju, BM President, Rotary Bangalore Peenya.

The camp is being held at Ganesh Bagh, Sri SSBS Jain Sangh Trust, No 9, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road.