The Jaipur Foot Artificial Limb Fitment camp, fully funded by Government of India, was organized by the Jaipur-based Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) from 03-30 September at Divisional Hospital Kondavil, Jaffna. This was the second camp organized in Sri Lanka, in line with the Government of India's commitment to provide relief, rehabilitation and resettlement of the people affected by the armed conflict in Northern Sri Lanka. The camp served beneficiaries from across Sri Lanka with one of the world’s best and cheapest artificial limbs, the famous "Jaipur Foot". It was formally jointly inaugurated by Hon'ble G.A. Chandrasiri, Governor of the Northern Province and Mr. V. Mahalingam, the Consul General of India in Jaffna, on 5th September.

The camp was run by a team of 20 experts from BMVSS and provided services to 1163 beneficiaries in all. The devices provided included 535 prosthesis (limbs), 228 orthosis (calipers) and 400 crutches.

A similar camp had been organized last year in Zone 1 of Menik Farm in Vavuniya district and had fitted artificial limbs and other devices to 1400 beneficiaries in all. [1087 prosthesis (limbs) 123 orthosis (calipers) and 190 crutches]. The camp this year was organized in Jaffna as a goodwill gesture by the Government of India, after the Sri Lankan Government lauded the efforts at the Vavuniya camp last year.

BMVSS is the world's largest organization providing support to physically challenged persons. It is noteworthy that a few members of the technical team for the Jaffna camp themselves were physically challenged persons. They were rehabilitated by BMVSS and provided with jobs. Today they are highly skilled technicians.

BMVSS has so far conducted such camps in nearly twenty five countries and in all, nearly 20,000 people in these countries have benefitted from the Jaipur Foot or the Jaipur knee. So far, a total of over 1.2 million people have been provided with artificial limbs and calipers by BMVSS, in India and elsewhere.

It is a matter of great satisfaction to the Government of India that the BMVSS camps organized in Sri Lanka, with assistance from the Sri Lankan Government, have helped the beneficiaries regain their mobility, dignity, and in many cases, sustenance.

Colombo