Discovering ‘Joy of Mobility’ with Intelligent Artificial Limbs

Puja, 22 years, a university girl from Sivasagar, who lost her lower limb amputated above knee at a tender age due to bone cancer can now go for a morning walk with her friends, go to her classes regularly and perform all her day to day activities without facing any difficulty.

Biswanath, 36 years from Bamunpukhuri Tea Estate Nazira, "I lay bleeding for hours, as a result, the infection spread upwards and my upper limb had to be amputated.", recalls the accident he met few year ago while he was a worker at a stone crusher. He says that he will now be able to do most of his chores and then some … "I have a small baby, I can pick him up, move around him" adds Biswanath.

Meet Jiten, 57 years, met an accidentwhile working as an electrician on 11 KVA electric high voltage panel. This resulted in serious burns leaving him with his upper limb totally damaged with burn injuries which was later amputated. Now he can work seamlessly thereby able to earn a livelihood and support his family.

Barnali, 17years, from Sivasagar who lost her right hand in an accident, is all set to learn to write and paint with her new Intelligent Artificial Limbs provided by ONGC.

Like Puja, Biswanath,Jiten, Barnail there are many amputees who needs prosthetic and orthotic treatment but can't afford due to the huge cost of the prosthetics. Thus, they remained with their disability till ONGC enabled them with the joy of mobility by providing Superior Quality Intelligent Artificial Limbs with customized measurements.They can now go for a morning walk, hold a pen, write, rotate their wrist, flex the elbow,drink and eat independently.

For those who have resigned to the fate of immobility owing to natural causes and accidents, ONGC Assam Asset has breathed a new lease of life of mobility& freedom through its CSR initiative.

Under the unique CSR project, 42 (forty-two) divyangs of Sivasagar and Charaideo Districts of ONGC operational areas, who have lost their limbs, will be fitted with superior quality intelligent artificial limbs. Among them, 09 (Nine) divyangs have already been fitted with artificial limb today, 17 December, 2018 at the ONGC Officers' Club, Nazira which completes the first and second phase of the CSR project.

The cost of the first and second phases of the project which includes 9 beneficiaries is Rs 20,69,091 (Rs Twenty lakh sixty-nine thousand and ninety-one only).

Initial registration, testing and evaluation for the final and third phase of the project which will benefit another33divyangs have also been also carried out today. Accordingly,intelligent prosthesis with customized measurements will be provided to them shortly. After evaluation, measurement and casting for preparing artificial limbs they will also be provided with a gait training for two days followed by fitment and discharge.

The beneficiaries of the first and second phase of the project were selected through the District Administration, Sivasagar and NaziraSubdivisional Administrationin a screening camp held on 8^thand 10^thof October 2018 at the ONGC Officers' club, Nazira.

On fitting the intelligent limbs, the joy knew no bounds on the face of the amputees. Energized and encouraged by newfound confidence, they demonstrated, their boundless ability to do normal day to day activities. These superior quality artificial limbs are extraordinarily agile, strong and light which will help regain independence and mobility of the amputees with it's built in smart robotics.

 Speaking on the occasion, ED-Asset Manager, Assam Asset, Mr. S D Maske reiterated that ONGC is a caring company and committed to spread smiles amongst the deserving beneficiaries in the society, especially in and around its operational areas. Energizing the lives of the 'Divyangs' byONGC, Assam Asset is a classic and innovative example of the company's commitment towards the society, he added.Mr. Maske also emphasized that such projects are of extremely critical nature, which can totally change the life of the victim and help make him independent, confident and earn his own livelihood or support his/her family. "Our dream is to continue the endeavour till we cover all the amputees of our operational areas", he stressed.

The Asset Manager exhorted the beneficiaries to act as goodwill ambassadors' of ONGC in their respective areas. He also complimented Team CSR, Assam Asset led by Mr. Sanjay Goel, GM Head HR/ER, Mr. Amandeep Singh, I/C CSR and Greentech Foundation Charitable Trust, New Delhi, the implementing agency for their endeavours.

Speaking as the guest of honour of the event, Mr. Rajib Thapa, ADC, I/C Nazira Subdivisionhighly appreciated ONGC's proactive CSR of the recent times and profusely thanked ONGC, Assam Asset for the commendable initiative to help the divyangs which will help regain their mobility to lead a normal life.

Greentech Foundation Charitable Trust, Chairman, Mr. K Sharan profusely thanked ONGC for conducting such camp in Assam extending support to the divyangs.