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Limbs that liberate

Artificial limbs are the most visible aspect of Mukti's work. But, there is much more to the organisation

SHE'S THERE TO HELP Meena Dhadha

After giving the finishing touch to an artificial limb, Sagar lets you in on a carefully concealed secret. He removes one of his shoes to reveal a foot that is made of rubber. Sagar is a classic example of what Mukti has been doing for 20 years — `liberating' people from crutches by providing them with artificial limbs and sometimes rehabilitating them by employing them in its units.

Through two centres — one in Meenambakkam and the other located in Kottakuppam, near Pondicherry — Mukti disburses artificial upper and lower limbs and callipers to amputees, polio victims and those affected by cerebral palsy — for free. Many of the workmen who make these limbs and callipers are disabled. Some are mentally challenged — Mukti's founder Meena Dhadha began to take in such workers following a request from Dr. Sarada Menon of SCARF. Mukti manages to accommodate a huge number of them because it keeps one foot in the printing business.

HDP pipes

Mukti, however, gets its visibility through its artificial limbs. Tulsi, a technician at Mukti, says, "For these limbs, we use high-density polyethylene (HDP) pipes as opposed to wood, which breaks easily." A beneficiary can come back any number of times to have the walking aids replaced or repaired.

As Mukti's reputation for producing artificial limbs based on the latest technology goes beyond India, it gets frequent requests to conduct limb camps in other countries. It has held workshops and camps in Sri Lanka, Nepal, Russia, the West Indies, Brazil, Ethiopia and Ghana. However, Mukti's focus has always been rural India.

When Meena set up Mukti in 1986 in the poky little garage of her Lyolds Road residence, she did not expect it to become such a huge organisation. In the initial years, it just limped along.

"I shifted to Gowdia Mutt Road, but realised the space was still not sufficient. Knowing I had little money to pay for more space, my mother made a hefty contribution. That enabled me to acquire on lease a parcel of land in Meenambakkam and build Mukti's first office."

Although Mukti has been receiving assistance from Rotary Club, Lions Club, Round Table, Jaycees and other organisations, it is strapped for money most of the time because it does not say `no' to a beneficiary who returns for a new piece of walking gear.

To augment the organisation's income, the Mukti Centre in Kottakuppam houses an art gallery, art studio, curio shop, a restaurant, guest rooms and a dormitory. Marked by an architectural elegance, they create an ambience that a weary tourist will lap up. Artists are invited to work at the studio. Acclaimed artists such as Sunil Das are said to have made use of this facility. Their works are put up for sale at the gallery. Art classes are also conducted at the studio. Mukti's biggest celebrity student till date is Ayesha Kapur, the girl who played the young Rani Mukherjee in Black.

Akarsh Gift Shop is filled with curios from the four corners of the world — — artistic shelves made from bullock carts that had been stripped down, cowbells, images of animals and humans made from iron wires picked up from debris... There are half a dozen guest rooms; each patterned differently. A well-appointed suite and a dormitory add to the provisions for lodging. An all-vegetarian Dwarika restaurant overlooks a green courtyard.

Part of the earnings from these facilities goes to support the cause. Visit muktiindia.org to learn more about the organisation.

PRINCE FREDERICK

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