Kalam concerned about disabled, developed lightweight prosthetics

Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was concerned about people with disability and along with his team developed lightweight prosthetics from space-age material to enable disabled children to walk easily.

CBM, an overseas disability charity, said in a post that Kalam, who died on Monday, "was not only an inspiration for the young generation, but also a supporter of Persons with Disabilities".

"The Bharat Ratna awardee and his team developed lightweight prosthetics from space-age materials to enable children with disabilities to walk. He expressed his delight on seeing children run and cycle using these light weight artificial limbs.

"When I see children run around and cycle with the artificial limbs we designed, it is sheer bliss," Kalam said, while delivering the 12th convocation address of the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University in 2010.

"I had seen these children struggling with the artificial limbs that weighed at least 4 kg. My team made one with composite heat materials used for rockets. This one is 10 times lighter," CBM quoted Kalam as saying.

"Dr. Kalam was always eager and willing to lend support to conversations and events related to the rights, and needs, of Persons with Disabilities," it said, mourning his death.

CBM describes itself as "an international Christian development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world".