New Delhi: Jaipur Foot USA chairman Prem Bhandari has decided to help a 14-year-old specially-abled boy from Jammu and Kashmir with an artificial limb free of cost. Bhandari decided to help the boy named Parvaiz after seeing his video where he can be seen walking to school on one leg despite dilapidated road conditions of his village.
“As soon as I read ANI’s tweet I decided to contact the family. I will provide an artificial limb to Parvaiz free of cost,” the news agency quoted the chairman as saying.
Jaipur Foot ensures the physical, economic and social rehabilitation of the specially-abled to enable them to regain their mobility and dignity and become self-respecting and productive members of the society.
The NGO provides prosthetics or artificial limbs, callipers and other physical aids and appliances free of charge to the disabled people through its centres, outreach programmes and rehabilitation camps, both in India and abroad.
Parvaiz, who walks to school daily on one leg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara, aims to pursue his academics and co-curricular activities with determination.
Parvaiz, presently studying in Class 9 at the Government High School in Nowgam, lost his left leg at a very tender age to a massive blaze.
“I cover a distance of about two kilometres daily while balancing on one leg. Roads are not good. If I get an artificial limb, I can walk. I have a dream to achieve something in my life,” he told ANI in an exclusive conversation earlier on Friday.
“I walk two kilometres per day to reach my school. The road to reach my school is damaged. I sweat a lot after reaching school as it is difficult for me to walk. I offer prayers after reaching school. I love cricket, volleyball and kabaddi. I hope that the government helps me in shaping my future. I have a fire within me to achieve my dreams,” he added.
Sharing his experiences, the 14-year-old said, “I do get hurt seeing that my friends can walk properly. However, I thank Allah (God) for providing me with strength.”
Parvaiz urged the government to give him a proper artificial limb or any other mode of transportation that will ease his journey to the school and other places.
He further said that his father had to sell the property for his treatment.
“Amputation was carried out by doctors at a hospital for which my father had to pay a huge sum of money,” he added.
Meanwhile, Parvaiz’s father Ghulam Ahmad Hajam narrated his ordeal.
“My child lost his leg at a very tender age to a massive blaze. My wife is a heart patient. I was in Baramulla when the incident happened with my child. I am a poor man. I cannot afford Rs 3 lakh for his treatment. I could only afford Rs 50,000 and had to sell my property,” the father said.
“I appeal to the government to help Parvaiz. He is good at studying and loves to play cricket. He is not involved in any wrongdoing,” he added.