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Jaipur:
Dr. D.R. Mehta, the founder and chief patron of the Jaipur based Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti, the makers of the world famous "Jaipur Foot" was presented the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna award at a special function at Jawahar Bhawan New Delhi.
The award was presented by the chairman of the advisory committee of Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Committee, Dr. Karan Singh in the presence of the Prime Minister Shri Manmohan Singh & UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. This award which carries a cash prize of Rs. Five lakh was given to Shri Mehta for his contribution to communal harmony, peace and goodwill. Late President K. R. Narayanan, Mother Teresa, Lata Mangeshkar, Bismillah Khan, Dilip Kumar. Sunil Dutt are among the persons who were recipients of this award in the past. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in his address said the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana award has become an important event of our calendar. He said late Rajiv Gandhi worked to build a strong and modern India and communal harmony was always high in his agenda. He worked for the decentralization of power that was aimed to empower the women and reservation to women in the panchayats was his bright idea which has started good and positive results.
Prime Minister said that the role played by the Jaipur based Bhagwan Mahavir Vikland Sahayata Samiti under the leadership of Shri Mehta enabled over a million people overcome their disabilities and they now walk with dignity. He said a sensible and dedicated person like Shri Mehta has led his bunch of dedicated workers to serve the humanity and the BMVSS has done enormous good work not only in India, but in several Asian, African and Latin American countries. It's for this reason that a bureaucrat like Shri Mehta, who set up the BMVSS 37 years ago has grown from strength to strength to become an organisation that is known globally. He truly deserved this coveted award and his role which inspired thousands of disabled only speak about the good work of the BMVSS.
In the award presentation function UPA chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi said that Dr. Mehta has given new dimension to communal harmony by serving the humanity in his own way and choosing to serve and help the disabled. He was an IAS officer, but never forget his social obligations to the society. The BMVSS is a great example of how the humanity could be served by making the disabled walk. Those who suffered disabilities either because of congenital problems or because of suffering injuries find the BMVSS as a true friend that make them stand on their feet once again. This is not a mean achievement by an organization which is so devoted to the cause of the disabled particularly the poor. She said Shri Mehta has not only made Jaipur popular, but has also contributed in earning the country great goodwill. Shri Mehta is working to connect human being with human being that leaves a lasting impression in one's heart and mind.
Shri Mehta, former chairman of the SEBI and a former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India in his acceptance speech said the BMVSS was set up in 1975 at Jaipur to rehabilitate the handicaps by providing them artificial limb. The BMVSS has since developed from strength to strength to emerge as the world's leading organisation for the handicaps having benefited over 1.3 million persons world over with artificial limbs, calipers and other aids and appliances, giving them dignity and mobility. Shri Mehta said the Jaipur Foot has become the most widely used prosthetics in the world. "I asked many industrialists, scientists and government leaders to name at least three industrial or manufactured Indian products, the brands of which are known all over the world. They could name only two, one of which was Jaipur Foot". He said the BMVSS evolved a special patient-centric management system to ensure fast humane personalized service. BMVSS provides aid and appliances free of charge as a large number of patients are below poverty line. "However, he added that it is ensured that the patients get the clear impression that they are getting help and not charity. One of the basic objectives of the BMVSS is to ensure dignity along with mobility.
Shri Mehta ensured that the BMVSS remains a non-political, non-sectarian, pan Indian NGO. The BMVSS is an international organization. It has held on-the -spot limb-fitment camps in over 26 countries of Asia including Pakistan and Afghanisatan, Africa and Latin America. The BMVSS has technical tie-ups with prestigious universities of US like Stanford and MIT. Earlier, Dr. Karan Singh lauded the role of Rajiv Gandhi in building a true modern India where there was opportunity for one and all. He said that the advisory committee was honoured to felicitate Dr. Mehta with the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna award. Union Ministers Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, Smt. Ambika Soni, Shri AK Antony, Shri Anand Sharma M. P. Shri Ahmed Patel etc.were among the dignitaries who were present in the function.
