Mumbai - October 28, 2009
Dow Chemical International Pvt. Ltd. (Dow India) in association with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) today flagged-off the Maharashtra phase of its multi-state ‘Jaipur Foot on Wheels’ initiative - a mobile vehicle fully-fitted to run Jaipur Foot camps in rural areas across India for the distribution of free limbs, calipers and crutches. Dow India’s 2009 financial donation of Rs 1 Crore, funded the vehicle and will help provide prosthetics limbs and calipers to more than 5000 physically challenged people in India this year.
The mobile workshop was flagged off at an event held at the BMVSS satellite branch at KEM Hospital in Parel, Mumbai and will now travel to the Amravati District located in the Vidharbha region in North Eastern Maharashtra with a goal of distributing free limbs, calipers and crutches to more than 500 people in remote villages across the region.
Speaking at the event Dr. Ramesh Ramachandran, president & CEO, Dow India, said, “Our association with the Jaipur Foot initiative continues to strengthen each year, and represents a unique collaboration between a raw materials supplier, a product manufacturer, and a non-government organization working together through science and technology for the benefit of a common cause. Last year our support in Mumbai alone helped more than 350 physically challenged people during the five-day camp. This year we are excited to provide a mobile workshop which can go into the rural and tribal areas in Maharashtra and hope to help more than 500 physically challenged people over the next eight days.”
Vijay Choraria, secretary BMVSS branch at KEM hospital said, “On behalf of BMVSS, I would like to thank Dow India for their ongoing commitment to the Jaipur Foot initiative. As an example of the work our organisation does, the BMVSS permanent centre in Mumbai helps more than 6000 physically challenged people from the state of Maharashtra who have lost limbs through accidents or diseases such as polio, diabetes and cancer. Mobile vehicles provided by donations such as Dow India’s ‘Jaipur Foot on Wheels’ initiative allows our organisation to expand our efforts in Maharashtra and across India.”
In October 2009, the Dow India “Jaipur Foot on Wheels” mobile workshop began its journey in Chennai and Bengaluru where camps helped provide 660 physically challenged people a new lease of life. Dow India hopes to deliver prosthetic limbs and calipers to more than 1000 people through the efforts of the “Jaipur Foot on Wheels” initiative in 2009, as it finishes its journey across Amravati and culminates in New Delhi in November. Once the Dow India initiative is completed, the bus will be added to the BMVSS fleet for continued use across India.
As one of Dow India’s signature corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, the company has been collaborating with the Jaipur Foot initiative since 2005 in providing technology expertise, financial donation and employee volunteerism. In that time, Dow India has donated INR 3 Crore ($750,000) to BMVSS funding the manufacture and distribution of limbs, calipers and crutches and helping to change the lives of more than 17,000 physically challenged people with employees volunteering as camp facilitators in the communities in which we operate.
Dow India has also donated its technical expertise to BMVVS, leading to a significant design improvement resulting from the development of the polyurethane (PU) Jaipur Foot, a prosthetic limb that has excellent functionally and closely resembles a natural human limb. The change of polymer material to PU produced tangible results. It reduced the manufacturing cost of the foot by approximately 25%, increased the longevity of the foot, enhanced the consistency of quality through the use of a computer controlled injection moulding process, and increased manufacturing productivity from one limb per hour to eight limbs per hour. For the recipient, the foot weight was reduced by around 20% and allowed for greater flexibility, enabling recipients to not only walk comfortably but also to squat, kneel, crouch and sit cross-legged - an all functional, all terrain limb. The PU foot has been acknowledged by leading orthopedic experts as having greater flexibility, greater comfort and higher durability. Development work continues today with Dow India’s PU team looking at coating the foot with an elastomer layer to increase longevity and developing a rigid PU keel to give additional strength and increase the product life.
About the Mobile Workshop / Jaipur Foot Camp on Wheels
The mobile workshop is a stand alone model of ‘Chassis’, a bus from Force Motors of Pune, a well known company having German collaboration. The bus is fully equipped to fabricate artificial limbs and calipers in the vehicle, which includes such equipment as an oven, vices, cutters, laser liner, and a vacuum-forming machine. The mobile workshop is staffed by seven technicians who are able to complete on the spot tailoring and fitting of prosthetic aids. Technicians on this workshop can fit up to 20 artificial limbs and 30 calipers per day.
About Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti
Since its inception in 1975, Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) Jaipur, has become the world’s largest limb fitting organisation, helping more than a million physically-challenged people to be mobile again by providing artificial limbs, polio calipers, wheelchairs, tricycles and crutches free of charge to the beneficiaries in India and around the world. BMVSS’s efforts help thousands of physically challenged people gain mobility and dignity each year. For more information www.jaipurfoot.org.
About Dow India
Dow Chemical International Private Limited (Dow India) is committed to consistent growth through its expertise as a science and technology leader, its experience as a leading chemical company, and its engagement with the communities in which it operates. With more than 1100 employees, in 12 locations across the country, Dow India has established three Centers of Excellence in the areas of Engineering (Chennai), Research & Development (Pune) and Transactional Services and Expertise (Mumbai) as well as three manufacturing sites and a variety of commercial offices. As a responsible corporate citizen, Dow India provides free artificial limbs and technology development for the 'Jaipure Foot' initiative; built homes through the 'Habitat for Humanity' Jimmy Carter Work Project, and is actively working in collaboration with the Byrraju and Anarde Foundation to supply clean drinking water to villages in India. Further information can be found at www.dow-india.com.
For Editorial Information:
Roysten D’Mello
Dow India
+91 9833859074
