From Dependence to Enablement : Artificial Limbs Camps

From 24th December 2025 to 14th February 2026, Parivaar, in collaboration with Mahavir Seva Sadan, provided Artificial Limbs and Calipers to 284 limb-disabled persons (332 limbs fitted, including bilateral cases) across remote pockets from several districts of Madhya Pradesh.

For around two months before the camps, our various district field teams began visiting villages and conducting detailed surveys to identify potential beneficiaries from their areas. A significant part of the pre-camp screening was carried out through a collection of photographs and basic details via Google Forms. This helped in assessing cases beforehand and selecting only those beneficiaries who had a clear possibility of being benefited in order to preclude any possibility of individuals who were unlikely to be benefitted from needless trouble of travel and hurt of unfulfilled expectations.

On the day of the camp, our field Sevavratees from various areas arranged transportation and brought the selected beneficiaries to their respective camp venues. Our own Sevavratees also acted as attendants catering to all the needs of those being served. The camp locations were located in areas as far apart as those in eastern fringes of Madhya Pradesh bordering Chhattisgarh to those, nearly a thousand kilometres away, bordering Gujarat and Rajasthan.

During the camp days, which were held in winter, our Sevavratees were out in the field as early as 5 AM—walking through village paths, knocking on doors, helping beneficiaries prepare, and accompanying them to vehicles. By 9 AM, they ensured timely arrival at the camp venues. Surmounting all the logistical challenges, the work was done with considerable efficiency.

Upon arrival of the potential beneficiaries measurements were taken, and the artificial limbs were made and fitted on the same day. After fitting, the beneficiaties safely escorted the beneficiaries back to their respective villages.

The smoothness and efficiency of the exercise were helped by the fact that the entire on-site work i.e., measurement, fabrication, and fitting could be done within a single day. This significantly improved participation, as it reduced the need for multiple visits or costs-involving travels and multiple-day stay to some big hospitals located far-off that provide such services. Another singular feature of the exercise was that those serving from Mahavir Seva Sadan had themselves been beneficiaries of their services in the past.

What took place at the camps went beyond a mere medical intervention. Witnessing a person arrive with dependency and return home walking independently came as a profoundly joyful and moving moment to all involved.

The impact of this initiative has now reached many communities (the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups of Baigas from Dindori and Sidhi, to Bhariyas in Chhindwara and Sahariyas in Sheopur. We are receiving calls and requests to organize similar camps again.

Now that we have tasted blood, we intend to make this a regular stream of our already fairly diverse work and intend to conduct several more camps in different areas (not limited to Madhya Pradesh) so that any person with limbs-disability who stands a chance of getting enabled could be so served.

We especially note the key role played by our Sevavratee – and a supremely dedicated Vivekananda worker – Dr. Dr-Ratnadeep Seal in conceiving and coordinating this entire program. Our immense gratitude to Mahavir Seva Sadan without whom this could never have been possible.

As we always say the Core Competence of a grassroots humanitarian organisation should not be seen in domain-centric terms but the strength of its ‘grassrootishness’ itself.

“I tell you in plain words. You work best when you work for others.”

– – – Swami Vivekananda