The Indian Panorama

Tag: Jaipur Foot

  • Devika Patel to Organize and Sponsor Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Gujarat in Memory of BRUHUD Founder Shashikant Patel

    Harsh Vardhan Shringla to be  a Special  Guest

    BRUHUD New York Seniors Founder Late Shashikant Patel

    NEW YORK (TIP): BRUHUD New York Seniors, founded in 2009 by the late Shashikant Patel, has become one of the largest organizations for seniors in the tri-state area. The organization hosts annual events such as health fairs, Independence Day celebrations, Garba, and the Diwali Gala, among other functions, with these events typically attracting 500 to 800 participants.

    After the passing of its founder, Shashikant Patel, his son Ajay Patel has taken charge, continuing his father’s legacy and ensuring the smooth execution of all BRUHUD initiatives. Ajay Patel, who serves as the President of BRUHUD, is also an office bearer of Jaipur Foot USA, the U.S.-based arm of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayta Samiti (BMVSS), India. BMVSS is globally recognized as one of the largest organizations for differently-abled individuals (Divyang), renowned for its prosthetic limb, the “Jaipur Foot.”

    Inspired by the humanitarian efforts of Jaipur Foot, Shashikant Patel’s 21-year-old granddaughter, Devika Patel, proposed organizing and sponsoring a free artificial limb fitment camp in Gujarat in memory of her grandfather. The five-day camp, scheduled to take place from January 27 to 31, 2025, at the Mahudi Jain Temple in Mahudi town, Mansa Taluka, Gandhinagar district, Gujarat, will provide prosthetic limbs (Jaipur Foot), calipers, crutches, and wheelchairs to those in need.

    Good Samaritans. L to R: Ajay Patel ( President (BRUHUD), Prem Bhandari (President RANA), and Devika Patel ( Organizer and Sponsor of Artificial Limb Fitment Camp in Gujarat in Memory of her grandfather Shashikant Patel)

    In a press release, Jaipur Foot USA announced that the Ahmedabad center of BMVSS, led by Vice Chairman Lalit Jain, would provide full support for the camp, including sending a mobile van to assist on-site. Registrations for beneficiaries have already begun through the Ahmedabad center.

    Jaipur Foot USA’s parent organization, BMVSS, was founded in 1975 by Padma Bhushan Dr. D.R. Mehta in Jaipur, India. Since its inception, BMVSS has benefited over 2.2 million differently-abled individuals across 42 countries through 114 international camps. Notably, 31 of these camps were conducted under the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India’s India for Humanity initiative, launched to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. These camps have supported individuals in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

    Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, announced that Harsh Vardhan Shringla, former Foreign Secretary, G-20 Chief Coordinator, and a steadfast supporter of Jaipur Foot, will attend the Gujarat camp as a special guest. Additionally, the founder and Chief Patron of BMVSS, Dr. D.R. Mehta, will also be present.

    A View of the Gathering at the well-attended event. L to R: Ravi Jargarh (Secretary RANA), Ashok Sancheti (Advisor, Jaipur Foot USA), Prem Bhandari (President RANA) , Pragya Singh, Consul, Indian Consulate, New York, and Mohan Nannapaneni (Founder Team Aid)

    Ajay Patel, his wife Kinnari Patel, and their daughter Devika Patel will travel from New York to participate in the camp. Prem Bhandari, who will also attend the camp from New York, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inaugurating the first Jaipur Foot USA-BMVSS mega camp in April 2016. This camp, held in Mhow, Indore, marked the 125th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar at his birthplace. Later that year, another mega camp was organized at Diksha Bhoomi in Nagpur, the historic site of Dr. Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism.

    Bhandari further credited Prime Minister Modi’s unwavering support and blessings for enabling BMVSS to partner in the India for Humanity initiative, resulting in 31 fully sponsored international camps, with 11 more planned. He also highlighted the upcoming inauguration of BMVSS’s first international Jaipur Foot center in Malawi, announced during the recent visit of the President of India to Malawi.

    Another view of the gathering.

  • BRUHUD to honor Dr. Varun Jeph at the 16th Annual Deepawali Gala on November 16

    BRUHUD will honor Dr. Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India in New York, for his outstanding service to the Indian diaspora across the 10 U.S. states under the jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in New York.

    NEW YORK (TIP): BRUHUD, one of the largest organizations for seniors in New York, is set to celebrate its 16th Annual Deepawali Gala on November 16th at the Ganesh Temple Auditorium in Queens, NY. This year’s event will honor Dr. Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India in New York, for his outstanding service to the Indian diaspora across the 10 U.S. states under the jurisdiction of the Indian Consulate in New York.

    Mohan Nannapaneni, founder of Team Aid—a prominent NGO dedicated to assisting with the repatriation of mortal remains from the U.S. to India, will be recognized.

    Mohan Nannapaneni, founder of Team Aid—a prominent NGO dedicated to assisting with the repatriation of mortal remains from the U.S. to India—will also be recognized.

    Prem Bhandari, a distinguished global advocate for the Indian diaspora and Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA will be the Chief Guest.

    The evening’s Chief Guest will be Prem Bhandari, a distinguished global advocate for the Indian diaspora and Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA.

    In a statement released by BRUHUD President Ajay Patel, he highlighted that the organization was founded in 2009 by his late father, Shashikant Patel, with a mission to support and improve the well-being of senior citizens. Shashi Kant Patel pioneered health fairs, seminars, and other initiatives for seniors, establishing a legacy of service and care.

    Ajay Patel also announced that, in memory of his father, BRUHUD will sponsor a free Jaipur Foot camp in Gujarat in the last week of January, providing artificial limb fittings to those in need.

  • Jaipur Foot USA Explores options to hold limb fitment camps to help soldiers, civilians injured in Russia-Ukraine conflict

    Jaipur Foot USA Explores options to hold limb fitment camps to help soldiers, civilians injured in Russia-Ukraine conflict

    May 4, 2022

    NEW YORK (TIP):  Amid the ongoing Ukraine war, Jaipur Foot USA is looking at possibilities to hold limb fitment camps for needy soldiers and civilians injured in the conflict, a PTI report says.

    Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari along with Joint Secretary, Jaipur Foot USA Nishant Garg met the Consul General of Ukraine in New York Oleksii Holubov on Tuesday, May 4.

    They also met New York City’s Commissioner for International Affairs Edward Mermelstein, Deputy Commissioner- Trade, Investment and Innovation for New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs Dilip Chauhan and General Counsel for the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs Sarah Friedman.

    During the initial meeting, Bhandari raised the issue of the possibility of organizing Jaipur Foot camps to help soldiers and civilians injured in Ukraine war.

    Bhandari said that given the current circumstances that may make holding camps in Ukraine difficult, the organization will explore options to hold a pilot project for such camps in countries neighboring Ukraine such as Poland.

    To a question from The Indian Panorama, if the Jaipur Foot USA will provide their services to Russian soldiers and civilians, too, Mr. Bhandari said their organization believes in serving all people in need of their services.

    To another question on whether or not the limbs will be provided at a cost or free, Mr. Bhandari said the limbs are provided absolutely free. “Since 1975, we have not charged even 10 cents”, Mr. Bhandari said.

    The organization has been providing artificial limbs at zero  cost to those in need, including children affected by armed conflicts.

    He said he discussed the proposal with Padma Bhushan awardee D R Mehta, the founder and chief patron of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), the parent body of Jaipur Foot USA.

    So far, over 1.90 million beneficiaries of BMVSS have been fitted/provided with Jaipur Foot limb, calipers, and aids and appliances in India as well as in 33 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, including through 85 international camps.

    Bhandari said that in line with the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the World is One Family – Jaipur Foot believes in this philosophy and inculcates it in its mission of helping those in need.

    Jaipur Foot has zero per cent administrative cost, he said, adding that “BMVSS is a secular, non-religious, non-governmental, non-political, non-sectarian, non-regional and not for profit charitable organization set up to help the physically challenged, particularly the financially weak and underprivileged.”