It was at the age of two, Surya from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu lost one of her legs in a road accident. Now aged 21, this MBBS student at Government Medical College in Coimbatore owes a lot to the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) of Lions Club of Palakkad Fort Town for helping her climb the ladders of success in life.

“I have been using the artificial limbs provided free of cost by the centre since the beginning. The facility was a major reprieve for my family which ekes out a living by running a roadside tea stall,” said Surya with pride.

“Surya was one among the initial beneficiaries of the centre started two decades ago with the sole focus on those who come from economically weaker sections. This is the 18th year since its establishment and we have already conducted 21 camps. In each camp, we provide artificial limbs to at least 100 people apart from doing maintenance for the limbs already given,” says C. Balakrishnan, one of the former presidents of the Lions Club and a brain behind the centre.

“We had thought of such a facility after one of our members met with an accident. In the case of accident victims from poorer families, the loss is not just a limb but the whole source of livelihood. The centre is supporting many accident victims and they include school students, sanitary workers, butchers, and vegetable vendors. All foot amputees, they limp back to normal life, with the new leg,” says Dinesh Kumar, president of the club.

Artificial limb distribution camps by the government and not-for-profit organisations are not uncommon, but the initiative by this centre stands distinct as it trains the needy to lead a normal life. Plus One Student Vineesh from Kollangode, who said he can even climb a coconut tree. “We are not just getting limbs. But also confidence too to survive in a fast changing world,” said Vineesh.

As prosthetic devices are expensive and priced from anywhere between Rs.30,000 to Rs.1lakh, the club started its own manufacturing of the device. Now, the club is spending about Rs 8,000 per leg apart from meeting the expenses of maintenance.

“We have our own expert technicians to make the device and fit it at the comfort of the needy. Follow-up programmes ensure that any glitches are corrected by technicians.

As the life of the device is less than three years, such regular camps allow beneficiaries to come back for a replacement,” said Sajeev Thomas, a club member active with the initiative.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Kerala / by K.A. Shaji / Palakkad – October 22nd, 2015