Naidu launches 'Jaipur Foot' camp in Malawi, distributes India-made prosthetic limb to beneficiaries

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday inaugurated a 'Jaipur Foot' camp here and distributed the free India-made prosthetic limb to several beneficiaries.

The camp was launched under the 'India for Humanity' programme, which honour Mahatma Gandhi's service to humanity.

Inaugurating the camp, Naidu said the first Jaipur Foot camp in the series is launched in Malawi because it was here in Africa that Gandhiji took his "first steps towards becoming a Mahatma, a great soul and later went on inspire a number of generations".

"It was this soil of Africa which gave the nourishment and inspiration and made Mahatma Gandhi what he was. It was Africa that transformed his vision and gave greater clarity to his life's mission," Naidu said.

The 'Jaipur Foot' is one of the best examples of Indian ingenuity and barefoot engineering that has helped several thousands of victims of landmine blasts and accidents across the world to walk again.

"In the presence of Malawian dignitaries, VP handed over artificial limbs to the beneficiaries," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Ravish Kumar tweeted.

In the last two decades, the 'Jaipur Foot' has become a symbol of Indian humanitarian assistance in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

"As per the Indian world view, the whole world is seen as one family or 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which is the attitude of empathy, of sharing and caring, of a sharp focus on alleviating the agony of fellow human beings," Naidu said.

The Vice President said Gandhiji's vision and voice has a rare resonance in numerous hearts around the world because it springs from the timeless humanistic vision of India.

"His experience with truth and his commitment to serve those in need are an inspirational saga," he said.

The 'India for Humanity', which was launched on October 2 to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, will take the message of the Mahatma to all parts of the world over the next one year.

The programme celebrates the great values of humanism which Mahatma Gandhi embodied right through his life.