Mumbai, India - October 14, 2008
Dow India, the leading sponsor of the unique PU Foot initiative of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti's (BMVSS) Jaipur, today announced the commencement of its Jaipur Foot camp in Airoli, near Mumbai. The camp which is being organized from October 13 - 17, 08, would witness free fabrication, and distribution of approximately 300 artificial limbs and calipers to the physically challenged enabling them regain .their mobility and dignity.
The organization of Jaipur Foot camp in Mumbai is an extension of Dow India's recent announcement of providing a support of Rs 1 Crore to BMVSS. Apart from Mumbai, Dow India would subsequently be organizing similar camps in Pune and Chennai as well. The camps in all three cities would eventually distribute more than 1000 artificial limbs and calipers benefiting equal number of patients.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ramesh Ramachandran, president and chief executive officer, Dow India said, "Dow India's initiative to organise the Jaipur Foot camp in Mumbai is a testament of our commitment to constantly work towards the overall progress of the communities in which we operate. He further added, "We at Dow are extremely proud to be associated with a pioneering organization like BMVSS and are fully committed to provide support, through science, to this noble endeavor".
As a part of its ongoing corporate citizenship programmes, Dow India has been associated with the Jaipur Foot initiative since 2005. Apart from committing financial resources to BMVSS, Dow India's polyurethane unit at Kalwa, has utilized its expertise to introduce the revolutionary polyurethane (PU) Foot, which has been highly acknowledged by global orthopedic experts.
Acknowledging Dow India's enduring support to the Jaipur Foot initiative, Mr D R Mehta, Founder and Chief Patron, BMVSS said, "The dedication and response of the management and the technical team of Dow India is truly commendable and the organization of Jaipur Foot camps in three cities would enable the welfare of many more physically challenged individuals living below the poverty line in our country".
Dow India's PU site at Kalwa, Mumbai has been the technological backbone of the PU Foot. The Jaipur Foot, until recently was produced by using vulcanized rubber, which involved tedious manual work by a skilled workforce. Since July 2002, when the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) had introduced the concept of using microcellular polyurethane for this application, BMVSS had been trying to get associated with chemical companies and processors to commercialize the process.
Over the last few years, BMVSS, Dow India and Pinnacle Industries (Pithampur, Indore) joined hands to take the project forward. This association led to the launch of the new Polyurethane (PU) made foot.
Global orthopedic experts have been very appreciative of the PU Foot and have declared that the degrees of movement in the PU foot are better than rubber with additional benefits such as being lightweight and increasing comfort for patients. The productivity of manufacturing the PU foot is more than that of the rubber foot.
Dow India is currently working on the next generation polyurethane foot coated with a protective elastomer layer to enhance the life of the PU foot by 100%.
About Dow India
Dow Chemical International Private Limited, headquartered in Mumbai, has more than 700 employees, at its head office, one manufacturing site and three Centers of Excellence. Operations in India have experienced exciting growth with annual sales crossing Rs 1880 crores ($470 mm) mark in 2007. As a responsible corporate citizen, Dow India has helped build homes for the homeless through the 'Habitat for Humanity' Jimmy Carter Work Project, supplied free artificial limbs through the 'Jaipur Foot' initiative, and collaborated with the Byrraju Foundation to supply clean drinking water to villages in India.
About Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS)
Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) Jaipur, set up in 1975, is the world's largest organization for the handicapped, benefiting more than One Million handicapped in India and abroad, by providing artificial limbs, calipers and other aids and appliances since its inception. Since most of its patients are below the poverty line, this assistances to them has been provided totally free of charge. It is non-political, non-sectarian, non-Government organization. It follows a comprehensive rehabilitation programme, comprising physical, economic & social help with the objective of restoring the mobility and dignity of the handicapped. In the last one financial year of 2007-08 alone BMVSS, with support from various sensitive sources and organizations helped more than 66000 handicapped. Besides, in the last several years BMVSS held on-the-spot artificial limb camps in 22 Countries of Asia, Africa & Latin America where land mind victims galore. Some of these countries are Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, Honduras etc. BMVSS is also committed to the up gradations of various aids and appliances with the help of various world-renowned scientific organizations and technology companies so that the handicapped are benefited even more.
About Dow
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Roysten D’mello
Dow India
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