PORT OF SPAIN (TIP): India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar jointly inaugurated a permanent Jaipur Foot Prosthetic Centre in Trinidad and Tobago, marking a significant milestone in humanitarian cooperation and healthcare partnership between the two nations. The center, established with the support of Jaipur Foot USA and Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), is expected to provide affordable prosthetic limbs, mobility assistance, and rehabilitation services to differently abled individuals not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but across the Caribbean region as well.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by several distinguished dignitaries, including Trinidad and Tobago’s Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe and India’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit.
The launch of the center fulfills a promise made during Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s visit to New York in September 2025, when discussions were initiated regarding the establishment of a permanent Jaipur Foot facility in Trinidad and Tobago. Calling the project a shining example of “promise made, promise kept,” Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar praised Jaipur Foot USA and all stakeholders for transforming the vision into reality within months.
According to officials associated with the initiative, the center will provide prosthetic fitments, rehabilitation support, training for healthcare personnel, and operational assistance during its formative years.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jaishankar highlighted the worldwide recognition and humanitarian impact of the Jaipur Foot initiative.
“The Jaipur Foot has become famous across the world. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, have benefitted over the years,” he said.
Developed by BMVSS in India, the Jaipur Foot programme is internationally acclaimed for providing high-quality, low-cost prosthetic limbs to differently abled individuals across the globe. Officials noted that the new center would significantly improve access to affordable mobility care for Caribbean residents who previously had limited options for prosthetic support.
The initiative also reflects India’s growing engagement with Caribbean nations through humanitarian outreach, healthcare cooperation, and people-centric diplomacy.
Ajay Patel, Vice President of Jaipur Foot USA and chief coordinator of the Trinidad and Tobago project, said the center was completed in record time with strong support from the governments of both countries and Indian community organizations.
The roots of the initiative go back to September 2025, when Jaipur Foot USA, along with BRUHUD NY Seniors and the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), organized a grand welcome ceremony in New York in honor of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The occasion also coincided with the birthday celebrations of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and featured the unveiling of the “Viksit Bharat” T-shirt by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar.
During the event, Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, announced plans for establishing a permanent Jaipur Foot Centre in Trinidad and Tobago. Within a week of the announcement, a 50-day Jaipur Foot camp commenced in Port of Spain on October 3, 2025. Organized by BMVSS and fully sponsored by the Government of India, the camp provided Jaipur Foot prosthetics to more than 800 differently abled individuals, transforming countless lives.
A key meeting held on the inaugural day of the camp brought together Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, High Commissioner Dr. Rajpurohit, BMVSS Founder and Chief Patron Dr. D.R. Mehta, Vice Chairman Manish Daddha, Vice President Ajay Patel, Amit Alagh, and Dr. Sona Ramdath Jr.
During the meeting, it was finalized that Jaipur Foot USA would support the permanent center by funding travel expenses, training Health Ministry personnel, and providing machinery and materials necessary for the operation of the center during its first two years.
Remarkably, within just eight months of the original announcement, the vision of a permanent Jaipur Foot Centre had become a reality. The center is expected to begin serving beneficiaries immediately following its inauguration, bringing hope, dignity, and mobility to countless individuals across the Caribbean.
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