IE: 6 months after accident, disabled RPF cop gets Jaipur feet, thanks to NGO: May 21, 2008

6 months after accident, disabled RPF cop gets Jaipur feet, thanks to NGO……..STUTI SHUKLA

“IT FEELS like ages since the last time I went out for a stroll. Hopefully, from tomorrow I would be able to walk again and do all the things that I used to do before”, said Vijay Malviya, who has been given a pair of Jaipur feet free of cost by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti, (BMVSS), an NGO working for the physically challenged. Malviya, 26, an RPF (Railway Protection Force) constable lost his legs on December 7, 2007, when he fell into the gap between a train and the platform while trying to save a man who was about to fall in the gap after trying to board the train at the Amravati station.The BMVSS that has been running the Jaipur Foot Association at the KEM Hospital in Parel, came to know about Malviya through media reports. Sameer Zaveri, a volunteer of the BMVSS, said, “When we had come to know about Malviya’s plight a month ago, we sent a letter to the Chief Security Commissioner of the RPF seeking Malviya’s personal details so that we can take him to our organisation and help him.”

Malviya was brought to Mumbai on Sunday and measurements of his feet were taken on Tuesday. The Jaipur feet will be ready and fitted on Malviya’s amputated limbs on Wednesday. Zaveri, who uses Jaipur feet after he lost his limbs in an accident 20 years ago, said, “After a patient is brought in, our Prosthetics and Orthotics professionals perform a medical examination of amputated limbs and if necessary, the patient is asked to consult an Orthopaedic surgeon. Otherwise, the Jaipur foot is fitted directly after the examination. After this, we will help the patient practise walking for 15 days.

Though it will be tough for Malviya initially, within a month he will get used to walking with artificial limbs” Zaveri said.

The BMVSS has been providing free service to the physically challenged in Mumbai since 1984 and has treated almost 10 lakh physically challenged persons till date.

After the incident took place, Malviya didn’t get any job in Chhindwara, his hometown in Madhya Pradesh. “The Railways was supposed to give me a clerical job as an alternative employment. But so far didn’t get any job even after six months of the incident. I spent around Rs 3 lakh for the treatment. I submitted the medical bills after I was asked to do so, but no money has been reimbursed so far,” he said.

Ashwini Agnihotri, Staff Officer at RPF, said, “We are going to raise funds from within the RPF to reimburse medical expenses incurred by Malviya. I can’t assure how much amount will be granted and when will it be granted. We will also provide him with a sedentary job after checking whether there are any vacancies available. The process will take some time.”

A state level gold medalist in athletics, Vijay Malviya had represented the RPF at the Vishakapatnam All India Athletics Meet in 2006. “I will surely pursue sports by participating in sports for the handicapped. I also want to complete my degree in law which I had to leave halfway because of the accident,” said Malviya.

URL: http://epaper.indianexpress.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=21_05_2008_523_004&typ=1&pub=320