Jaipur Foot

Jaipur foot, also known as Jaipur leg, is a great help for the people who lost their leg during accident or some other reason. It is a prosthetic leg, easy to fit and water resistant. More than anything else, it is inexpensive. The Jaipur Foot is fitted free of cost by Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahyata Samiti (BMVSS). This great institution was founded by Devendra Raj Metha in 1975 at Jaipur, the pink city of India. BMVSS is the largest organization for the handicapped in the world, engaged in humanitarian work, by providing artificial limbs, calipers, crutches, and ambulatory aids. BMVSS is a social organization dedicated to improving mobility for the physically challenged.

Following a serious accident in 1969, Dr. Mehta's legs were crushed and with great medical help and longer stay in the hospital, his legs were saved. As a result, he realized the need of poor people in such a situation and decided to help them. Thus BMVSS, a humanitarian organization, was established in 1975, on the occasion of the 2500th death anniversary of Lord Mahaveer, founder of Jainism, to help the needy. BMVSS is totally secular and non-religious and non-sectarian, where patients of all denominations are welcome and given assistance.

Today, BMVSS has sixteen branches for Limb / Caliper making, all over India. In addition, they also run nine Permanent Satellite centers where patients can attend on certain fixed days of the month.

Nearly 60 patients each day obtain prostheses from Jaipur Foot's main facility in Jaipur, India. The Society also provides on-site meals and overnight accommodations to the patients and to their relatives with no charges.

BMVSS is the world's largest limb fitting Organization,. thus India became the world leader in practical, low-cost foot prosthesis.  At present BMVSS is serving

Mr. D. R. Mehta, Founder and Chief Patron of BMVSS has been awarded several awards for his philanthropic services.

1998 - National Award for the best institution working in the field of Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

1999 - Mahavir Award for the philanthropic services and welfare of the Handicapped.

1999 - Diwali-Ben Award to Master Ram Chandra Sharma ( the inventer of Jaipur Foot ).

2008 - The prestigious Padma Bhushan Award, the third Highest Civilian Award, conferred by Government of India, for his Social Work.

The beauty of the Jaipur foot is its lightness and mobility. With the help of Jaipur foot, a physically challenged person can have a quality of life because he can walk comfortably, ride a bicycle, run, jump, dance and even climb a tree. Their services are extended not only in India, but all over the world, and served almost a million people. While a prosthesis for a similar level of amputation can cost several thousand dollars in the U.S., the Jaipur foot costs only $28 in India.

Ram Chandra, a fifth generation master artisan with only a fourth grade education, is the artisan behind the manufacture of this artificial leg. He had invented a prosthetic leg in 1968, but later working with Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi, surgeon, together they developed the artificial limb which is more user friendly, and widely used. 

Sudha Chandran, an asipiring dancer, who lost her limb at the age of 14, following a car accident, got back her life after using Jaipur foot. Today she is known as the veteran dancer and actress of Southern India.  She tirelessly tried and achieved success with Jaipur foot on the stage of dance, fulfilling her dream of being a highly acclaimed personality. In the year 1986, she danced in Bollywood movie Nache Mayuri. BMVSS has so far fitted 1.2 million people with artificial limbs, calipers and other appliances free of cost, enabling them to get mobility and dignity.

The organisation has also ensured its development and sustainability by joining hands with various industrial organisations and research establishments like Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for monetary and technical assistance. The organisation not only just provides the artificial leg, it also works to fortify the patients with assistance that enables them to overcome the psychological problems which come on their way following amputation.

When Dr. Pramod Karan Sethi, surgeon and the co-inventor, died in January 2008, Indian President Pratibha Patil was moved to honour Sethi on his death, said, "helped amputees to continue their lives without the feeling of inadequacy, for which he shall always be remembered".

Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti
D R Mehta, Founder and Chief Patron
S R Mehta, Secretary
SMS Hospital Campus,
Jaipur -302004, Rajasthan
Phones:[0091][141] 2563063; 5062227

Website: http://www.jaipurfoot.org