UKHRUL: Nearly 200 people, mostly senior citizens from Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, participated in the Assessment Camp for Identification and Distribution of Aids, Appliances and Assistive Devices to persons with disabilities and senior citizens under the ADIP and RVY Schemes held at Riha village on Thursday.
The participants came from various villages, including Riha, Thawai, Marou, Shingta, New Canaan and Chadong in Kamjong district, as well as a few from Paorei and Peh villages in Ukhrul district.
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Organised by the Indigenous People’s Development Foundation, Kamjong District in collaboration with Riha Village Authority, the one-day outreach camp was held under the aegis of Composite Regional Centre for Skill Development Rehabilitation and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (CRCSRE), Takyel, Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GoI, and Real Manipur Imphal.
According to Hopingson A Shimray, vice-president of the Manipur BJP and former president of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the sole purpose of organising such a camp is to bring the services closer to local residents, as many people are still unable to travel to Imphal or other places for treatment.
Shimray, the man behind the camp, emphasised that the camp would assess and identify the health issues of residents, with special focus on hearing problems and the need for artificial limbs. Once the assessment and identification are completed, hearing aids and artificial limbs will be distributed to the beneficiaries within one or two months to those who have assessed and identified. Additionally, Shimray said that for elderly people aged 60 years old and above, walking sticks and other assistive devices will also be provided.
A total of three doctors assisted in identifying and assessing the degree of hearing impairment and determining the type of limbs they required during the camp.
An 86-year-old villager named Vayur from Paorei traveled approximately 70 to 75 kilometers to Riha village in hopes of receiving a wheelchair at the camp. “I have knee problems and can’t walk for long. So I have come here to apply for a wheelchair,” said the octogenarian.
Similarly, Ramlung, a resident of Paorei village, attended the camp due to a hearing issue. He also hopes to receive a hearing aid from the organisers.
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Another participant, Peacelife A. Shimray from Marou village, who lost his right leg in an accident in 2019, shared that he has already received two artificial limbs from RIMS and JNIMS. However, he noted that those artificial limbs were not suitable for the hilly terrain.
“After learning about this camp, I researched ALIMCO Company online and found that the artificial limbs they manufacture are of better quality,” he said.