Online edition of Sunday Observer

"I cried because I didn't have any shoes...and then I saw a man who didn't have any feet..." The words, memorable as they are poignant come to mind as the Jaipur limb-users, prepare for their big day in the sporting arena.

Wheeling towards victory at AIDEX 2001. Today they’ll prove their strength at the sports meet at Reid Avenue Grounds.

Deemed disabled and often sidelined from mainstream society because of social prejudices, these men, women and children would have been justified in bemoaning their plight and leading a secluded life away from the critical glare of the better abled society. But no. The Jaipur limb-users are made of sterner stuff. And begging for no quarters, they are determined to show the world that they are part of mainstream society and what their able bodied counterparts can do, they can do equally well. Hence the Jaipur limb-users sports day.

"We are having our Sports Day, 'Aidex 2002' on November 3, where amputees get to try their hidden capabilities," says Mrs. Kalyani Ranasinghe, President, Colombo Friend-in-Need Society. Organised by Prof. A.H. Sheriffdeen, Chairman of Aidex, the sports day aims at boosting the morale of the limb-users and giving them a day of fun and enjoyment, to make them feel that they are cared for. "The winners are given cash prizes and gifts," says Kalyani who firmly believes that losing a limb or being less able than others, doesn't mean one has to stop living his/her life.

Eight-year-old Lahiru with his new ‘miracle leg’.

Watching the hostellers hop around on their Jaipur Feet, one can't help wondering, why is it called the Jaipur Foot?

"Prof. Sethi, an Indian who innovated the Jaipur Foot concept in India visited Sri Lanka in 1982," Kalyani explains. " In 1983 we sent a technician to India to his workshop and launched the programme here in 1983.

Ever since, we've been providing artificial limbs to patients under what's known as the 'Jaipur Foot Programme'," she says adding that till then, amputees in Sri Lanka used to hobble about on inadequate wooden limbs that would soon become of no use." She also says that in addition to artificial limbs, they provide prosthetic and orthotic devices to the disabled and the poor.

"Ten per cent of our population is disabled and we need the public to understand this. Foreign donations have been re-routed which is why we need local support," she says.

The FINS (Friend-in Need Society) says that even though they have advanced technology to make the limbs here, the raw materials which are quite pricey are imported. "We make a wide range of limbs but we need people to sponsor them," FINS says.

Jumping for joy? Who said she cannot make it.

The Jaipur foot that is made locally has many special features. According to Kalyani, the hardy foot piece that is fixed on to the limb is water proof. "It comes in useful to the villagers who dwell in rough terrain as it's hardy. Farmers can work in the fields as it is water proof. Actually, it has features which the western foot piece does not have."

The Jaipur foot has not only given mobility to the disabled, but also a sense of hope and self-pride. W.M.D. Damayanthi Chandrathillake's tales is a classic case in point.

"..I didn't feel the difference since I was still a toddler and my parents didn't let me feel it at all. But as time went by, I felt my disability and I was `cornered' in a little corner of my classroom where I was ill-treated by my peers...I grew sick and tired and I was lonely, in a world of my own. Society made me feel worse...but I learnt to move on and I sympathised with the people who laughed at me. The year 1995 brought me good luck; I received my artificial limb..." says Damayanthi

What these people need is clear. They want the public backing and care. This minority needs the love and affection of the abled majority who are adept. Their handicap doesn't need to be lifelong.

"We get patients from all over the island. They will be under our supervision for as long as it takes, and in the case of children, once they are given the limbs, we give the parents an education grant which takes care of the child's entire schooling. Even their university education is taken care of. But what we want is for the corporate sector to find employment for these children who are otherwise completely normal," she says.

The limbs that give the disabled a new lease of life.

Pointing out that a disabled child can be as capable as any other child, she says that society should not make differences. According to Kalyani, a patient is kept in the hostel till the limbs are made and he has learnt to walk. "Actually, they find it difficult to use their artificial limbs at first. There are people who have never walked or used their legs which is a serious complication.

The training that is given to patients is called 'gait-training' where the patients learn to use the artificial limb. "It is a positive accomplishment the way the limbless in the wards sweat it out to walk a few steps", she says.

"There are people who don't even have the bus fare to come to us even if it means they are going to be able to walk. Twenty five per cent of our amputees are in this category, which is why we launched a mobile workshop. Some of them are not aware of this service," Kalyani says. Most of the amputees who are from outlying areas find it strenuous to travel to Colombo. The mobile service will save these needy folk the trouble of travelling to the city for their prosthetic or orthotic needs. Instead the services are accessible in their own locality.

The mobile service unit has been financed by The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and the British charity, Hope for Children. "Lots of children and women have benefited through this," says Kalyani. Each limb costs approximately Rs. 8,000, depending on the required size. "We get a few foreigners who have offered help but we want our people to care for our own people," she says.

An adorable small child shows off his newly-made limbs as he drags his feet with the greatest of difficulty. Determination is written across his face and in every laborious step he takes.

"We train amputees of all ages, to walk," says Gomes, physiotherapist. "It's easy for the youth but it's not so for the aged. But total satisfaction is theirs once they learn to walk. It's quite overwhelming the way they acknowledge our service. They come to us broken-hearted. We do both psychological and physical treatment. We feed their stamina and make them feel totally normal," he says.

FINS says that some attempt suicide and some succeed while some are being rehabilitated.

These children are deprived of education and other rights as normal human beings. They are cornered and denied the possibility of leading normal lives.

What they have to say...

R.K. Subramanium, 73 -(The right leg has been amputated in nine stages due to cancer.) "I'm learning to walk all over again," he beams while trying to get used to walking on his artificial limb.

Niluka Sanjeevani, 26- A blood clot in the heart made her lose the vitality of her legs."They removed one leg but the other one is slowly being cured," she says.

Nadeesha Sandakelum, 9 -"Both his legs are lifeless," says his grand-mother. "His parents left him when they found out".

Tulin Jayaratne, 22 -A congenital nerve problem made him lose the strength of his legs. "I'm going home tomorrow, I've got a mother and a brother to look after.

I'm hoping to start a business," he says looking hopeful.

Tulin has tried twice to commit suicide once he found out that he couldn't walk anymore.