When homemaker D. Prema spoke in a voice charged with emotion on the “new life” her son got since he received an artificial limb from Mukti, many heads in the audience nodded in acknowledgment. Several beneficiaries and their family members got together here on Saturday as a mark of gratitude to Mukti-M.S. Dadha Foundation, which completed 25 years of service to persons with disability. The organisation helps people to walk by providing them artificial limbs and callipers, free of charge.
A man with artificial limbs, whom Ms. Prema met on a train gave her the address of Mukti. “Until then I never knew about artificial limbs,” she said, adding that her son Jagadesh was born with a deformity in his left leg. Jagadesh aspires to be a computer science engineer and wants to support Mukti after his studies. Another beneficiary, the 76-year-old Ramachandran said: “I feel I have a long life with these limbs,” he said.
The journey
Nearly 28 years ago, the Rajasthan Youth Association organised an artificial limb camp in the city. Of the 450 people who came, only 100 were provided with the aid. Meena Dadha, founder-trustee of Mukti, thus came up with the idea. “There was only one hospital in KK Nagar where one could get limbs, but the waiting period was 10 years,” said Mahendra Dadha, trustee of Mukti.
Mukti was started in the garage of the Dadhas' house with two technicians and since then, has grown in size and strength. “The trust has provided limbs to over two lakh people so far. We have been assisted in our journey by our friends and well wishers,” said Mr. Dadha.
Ms. Meena Dadha said she raised funds by selling paintings and with the support of donors.
From creating limbs from aluminium sheets, plaster of Paris or high density polyethylene, these artificial legs have evolved. “To get the fit for a person with congenital deformity is a challenge because the limb has no shape, we even do that,” said P.Thulasidass, one of the first technicians at Mukti who even offers training in other hospitals.
Entertainment events marked the day. “Mimicry” Senthil, a beneficiary and who does shows at different venues, and his team pepped up the gathering.
