Athawale commits full support for the upcoming camps being organized in memory of Dr. Ambedkar in Delhi and Mumbai
NEW YORK (TIP): Shri Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, who is on a visit to New York, was honored at a special dinner reception hosted in Long Island by Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA and President of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA).
The Minister shares a longstanding association with Jaipur Foot USA. In 2023, he inaugurated two major camps for the differently-abled (Divyangjan) in Hyderabad and Tirupati. These camps were organized in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) of NY, NJ, CT & NE — an organization known for hosting the world’s largest India Day Parade outside India — and Jaipur Foot USA’s parent body, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS).
Speaking at the event, Mr. Bhandari highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s declaration of the “Panch Teerth” — five sacred sites associated with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s life:
- Mhow – his birthplace,
- Nagpur – Deeksha Bhoomi,
- London – where he pursued higher education,
- Delhi – where he passed away,
- Mumbai – where he was cremated.
To commemorate Dr. Ambedkar’s 125th birth anniversary in 2016, BMVSS organized two Jaipur Foot camps — one in Mhow and the other at Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur. Mr. Bhandari announced that, under the guidance of BMVSS Founder and Chief Patron Padma Bhushan Shri D.R. Mehta, preparations are underway for upcoming camps in Delhi and Mumbai.
He expressed gratitude for the continued support that BMVSS and Jaipur Foot USA have received from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of External Affairs, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Mr. Bhandari also commended India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador P. Harish, for organizing a special event at the UN on June 10 on Jaipur Foot and BMVSS to showcase India’s pioneering work in lower limb disability empowerment. The event will feature the impactful contributions of BMVSS in India and globally. BMVSS Founder and Chief Patron Mr D.R. Mehta and BMVSS President Ambassador Satish Mehta will arrive in New York on June 9 to participate in the event.
Seen in the picture, from L to R: Rajeev Bhambri, Ajay Patel, K.K. Mehta, Prem Bhandari, Ramdas Athawale, Harish Thakkar, Dilip Chauhan, Ravi Jargarh
Since its inception in 1975, BMVSS has benefited over 2.4 million differently-abled individuals by providing them with Jaipur Foot and other assistive devices. The organization has conducted 114 international camps in 44 countries, including 32 camps under the ‘India for Humanity’ initiative — fully sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mr. Bhandari, who recently visited Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago, said that Jaipur Foot camps have been approved by the Ministry of External Affairs in :
- Guatemala – 600 limbs
- Sudan – 600 limbs
- Trinidad & Tobago – 800 limbs
All three camps will be conducted later this year.
He further shared that an artificial limb fitment center will soon be opened in Malawi with MEA support, following the announcement made by President Droupadi Murmu last year.
Minister Athawale assured Mr. Bhandari of his full support for the upcoming camps in Delhi and Mumbai, being organized in memory of Dr. Ambedkar. He also praised the transformative work carried out by Jaipur Foot USA’s parent organization BMVSS in India and around the world.
Minister Atawale further said he would request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider establishing a memorial for Dr. Ambedkar in New York. In response, Mr. Bhandari stated that his family would be the first to contribute toward this noble cause.
Prem Bhandari presented to the Union Minister a brochure of Jaipur Foot.
The dinner was attended by prominent community leaders and members from RANA, Jaipur Foot USA, BRUHUD Seniors New York, AIA, AAPI, RAJMAI, REDIO, and other Indian-American organization.
Dignitaries and Attendees
- K.K. Mehta – President, Rajasthan Foundation
- Arvind Bhandari- One of the Founders of RANA
- Dasrath Dugar, Former President, RANA
- Dilip Chauhan – Deputy Commissioner, Mayor’s Office, New York City
- Ajay Patel – President, BRUHUD Seniors New York
- Dr. Shashi Saha – Trustee, AAPI (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin)
- Harish Thakkar – Representative, AIA (Association of Indians in America)
- Haridas Kotawala – Former President, Indian Diamond and Color Association
- Neelam Modi – Treasurer, RANA (Rajasthan Association of North America)
- Dr. Raj Modi – Member, RANA
- Dr. Raj Bhayani – Community leaders
- Rajeev Bhambri – Secretary, Jaipur Foot USA
- Ravi Jargarh – Secretary, RANA
- Vilas Savargaonkar, Member, Jaipur Foot
- Atul Kothari-Board Member, RANA
- Dulichand Baid, Board Member, RANA
- Navneet Goyal, Board Member, RANA
- Amit Saraf, Board Member, RANA
- Amit Shorewala, Board Member, RANA
- Prominent leaders from the Indian-American community across New York and New Jersey
- Representatives from RAJMAI, REDIO, AAPI, AIA, and BRUHUD Seniors NY
(Based on a press release)
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