14 persons get lightweight, adjustable prosthetic kits at Prarambh, an event by students of IIM Bangalore

Bengaluru: Fourteen knee amputees received prosthetic kits at ‘Prarambh’, the limb donation camp organized by Prayaas and Vikasana, the student-driven social impact clubs of IIM Bangalore, here today. The artificial limbs were provided by Nonspec – a start-up at NSRCEL, IIMB’s innovation and entrepreneurial centre. These limbs are specially designed to be lightweight and adjustable.

Prayaas, a social initiative of IIMB’s one-year Executive Post Graduate Programme (EPGP) students, was set up in October 2010 to make a difference. The Prayaas team organizes various activities through the year to touch the lives of many. Vikasana is the social impact club run by the students of the two-year Post Graduate Programme (PGP). Vikasana hosts several social initiatives annually, which include blood donation camps, run for a cause, Daan Utsav celebrations, etc.

Prayaas and Vikasana together organized ‘Prarambh’ in association with Nonspec, the Association of People with Disability (APD), and the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement. Prarambh sponsored prosthetic kits to 14 persons, both men and women ranging from 15 to 70 years. The beneficiaries were mostly from Mysore and Bangalore.

Channanayaka, a pensioner from Karnataka Electricity Board, hopes that the quality of his retired life will be enhanced with the prosthetic kit. His leg was amputated five months ago to prevent the spread of infection from a boil that had turned gangrenous. Siddaiah (70) is a watchman in Mysore. His leg was amputated 18 months ago. He was apprehensive about the prosthetic limb, but is now happy with this intervention as it is lighter and more adjustable than his earlier artificial leg.

Those at the camp, who had lost their limbs either due to accidents or snake bites, said they had been using cheaper but heavier prosthetics earlier as they could not afford the lightweight ones. With Prarambh’s initiative and support from Nonspec, many of them said they were looking forward to an improvement in their mobility as well as a better quality of life. After the distribution, fitting and trial by the beneficiaries, the program culminated with lunch, photographs and a lot of smiles.

Nonspec provides clinics with an affordable and adjustable artificial limb kit. The patented technology allows the limbs to be both height and angle adjustable. The limbs are ISO tested. Nonspec is currently focusing on deploying the below-knee artificial limb kit.

Reuban Daniel, Assistant Director, SCI Rehabilitation, Association of People with Disability (APD), was also present at the event. APD is an NGO that’s transforming the lives of underprivileged people with disability since 1959. Based in Bengaluru, APD runs extensive programs in rural and urban areas of Karnataka to enable, equip and empower persons with disability.

Earlier in the day, Prarambh was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by IIMB’s Dean Administration Prof. MS Narasimhan, IIMB faculty members Prof. G Sabarinathan and Prof. Rajendra K Bandi, and APD’s Reuban Daniel. The inauguration was followed by the reading of a poem by Rajlaxmi, a PGP alumna.