NEW YORK / GUATEMMALA CITY (TIP): Prem Bhandari, Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, visited Guatemala at the invitation of Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, Ambassador of India to Guatemala, to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Guatemala. During the visit, it was announced that the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has approved a Jaipur Foot camp in Guatemala to benefit over 600 differently-abled individuals. Under the flagship humanitarian initiative “India for Humanity,” these individuals will receive the globally acclaimed Jaipur Foot artificial limbs free of cost. The camp will be conducted by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), the parent organization of Jaipur Foot USA.

An official confirmation of the camp was formally handed over by Prem Bhandari, on behalf of the Indian Embassy in Guatemala and Jaipur Foot, to Ms. Claudine Ogaldes, Executive Secretary, and Mr. William Oswaldo, Inspector General of the Army, Ministry of Defense.

The event was graced by H.E. Mr. Carlos Ramiro Martínez, Foreign Minister of Guatemala, and Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, along with distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, senior government officials, prominent business leaders, friends of India, and members of the Indian community in Guatemala. Mr. Bhandari was accompanied by Mr. Rajeev Bhambhri, General Secretary of Jaipur Foot USA.

As part of the commemoration, floral tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi, honoring his timeless legacy of peace, compassion, and service to humanity.

Ambassador Dr. Mohapatra also announced that the Embassy of India in Guatemala is set to host the largest International Day of Yoga celebration outside India, scheduled for June 13. With 10,000 registrations already received and an expected turnout of 12,000, the event promises to be historic. An invitation has been extended to renowned yoga guru and Chancellor of S-VYASA, Dr. H.R. Nagendra, to grace the occasion.

A group of Guatemalan girls from the local Nataraja Dance School performed Rajasthan’s famous Ghoomer dance, to the delight of Mr. Prem Bhandari, a Rajasthani, and President of the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA). Mr. Prem Bhandari, on behalf of RANA, honored the performers and Nataraja Dance School with a cash award of $1000.00.

Speaking to ANI, Chairman Prem Bhandari expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for selecting BMVSS as a partner for organizing Jaipur Foot camps across Asia, Latin America, and Africa under the India for Humanity initiative. The upcoming camp in Guatemala will be the 33rd under this initiative.

Since its inception in 1975 by Padma Bhushan Dr. D.R. Mehta, Jaipur Foot (BMVSS) has conducted 114 international camps, providing limbs and assistive devices to nearly 2.3 million beneficiaries worldwide.
(With inputs from ANI)