India's "international brand", the Jaipur Foot has provided a lease of life to over a million people, India's Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said underscoring that the life-changing contributions of the prosthetic limb organisation illustrates Mahatma Gandhi's message of service and compassion to humanity.
Jaipur Foot USA and the Consulate General of India in New York hosted an exhibition and seminar on 'India for Humanity' Thursday as part of the commemorations planned worldwide to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary this year.
Shringla, the chief guest at the event, said besides the fact that Jaipur Foot provides prosthetics to such a large number of people, "it gives a lease of life to people. Over 1.75 million have been touched by it."
He said Jaipur Foot USA is doing a lot to support the endeavour of the Jaipur Foot, citing Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) Founder and Chief Patron D R Mehta, who said "this is not charity, it is help that we are rendering to people to stand on their own feet."
He recalled Gandhi's message of truth, non-violence and compassion, saying the "linkage between Gandhi's own beliefs and philosophy with the practical aspects of what Jaipur Foot is doing to extend his ideology into the realm of doing service for the people, is critical."
Jaipur Foot has collaborated with local hospitals in Dhaka and "through their amazing work, changing lives of marginalised people at zero cost."
"Mahatma Gandhi was the first advocate of sustainable development. In the UN, there is a lot of emphasis on the UN Sustainable Development Goals but Gandhi, more than a 100 years ago, was already expounding on the concept of the need to stay within the environment."