In a bid to make wounded soldiers, who are now confined to wheelchairs, self-reliant, an initiative ‘UdChalo’ is all set to take off at the Army’s Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) in Punjab’s Mohali.
‘UdChalo’ is a travel portal, that caters for the personal travel of the military and paramilitary forces personnel by aggregating defence fares and getting exclusive discounts. The PRC has joined hands with UdChalo with an aim to empower the disabled military veterans.
“Eight of our residents have started working with UdChalo after the requisite training. They will work in shifts for two hours a day and will be paid ₹5,000 a month. The initiative will be formally inaugurated by Lt. Gen. P.M. Bali AVSM VSM, the Chief of Staff of Western Command, on June 4,” said Col. (retd.) G.S. Chadda, director of the institute.
‘Purpose in life’
Col. Chadda points out that paraplegic and quadraplegic veterans have found a purpose in life through ‘UdChalo’, when they interact with fellow soldiers and resolve their concerns.
“It is a life re-lived. The initiative is unique and has given a new lease of life of these soldiers who are now confined to wheelchairs,” he said. PRC provides institutionalised care to soldiers, who are wounded in military or insurgency operations and can’t adequately provide for themselves the constant medical care associated with quadriplegia and paraplegia. Currently, PRC has 31 ex-servicemen from across the country.
Col. (retd) Chadda, said: “We give them vocational training so that after leaving the institute they can earn their livelihood. We need to understand that they have to bear the expense of their wheelchairs, which have a life of around seven years. They need a customised ergonomically designed house where they can access their belongings, etc. For all this, one needs financial independence.”
