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EAM Jaishankar to Open Prosthetic Limb Centre in Trinidad & Tobago

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will inaugurate a permanent prosthetic limb centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on Friday. The centre, established by Jaipur Foot USA in partnership with BMVSS and the Trinidad government, will provide locally-made Jaipur Foot limbs to amputees. Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar will co-preside over the inauguration. The initiative builds on a successful 50-day camp last year that served over 800 differently-abled individuals.

Key Points: Jaishankar Inaugurates Prosthetic Limb Centre in Trinidad

  • EAM Jaishankar to inaugurate centre on Friday
  • Centre will provide locally-made Jaipur Foot prosthetics
  • Trinidad PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar to co-preside
  • Initiative follows successful 50-day camp serving 800+ people
2 min read

EAM Jaishankar to inaugurate prosthetic limb centre in Trinidad & Tobago

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will inaugurate a permanent prosthetic limb centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, providing Jaipur Foot limbs to amputees.

"His pivotal leadership and significant contribution have made this lasting humanitarian initiative possible. - Prem Bhandari"

By Reena Bhardwaj, Washington DC, May 7

India's External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, is to inaugurate a permanent prosthetic limb centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on Friday, a humanitarian venture supported by the world's largest organisation serving people with disabilities.

The centre, established by Jaipur Foot USA in partnership with Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) and the Government of Trinidad & Tobago, will provide locally-made prosthetic limbs to amputees and the differently-abled in the Caribbean nation. Trinidad & Tobago's Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, will co-preside over the inauguration ceremony.

The project's roots trace back to September last year, when Jaipur Foot USA, alongside BRUHUD NY Seniors and Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA), organised a reception in New York in honour of Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, which also marked the birthday of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was at that gathering that Jaipur Foot USA Chairman Prem Bhandari publicly announced the plan for a permanent centre.

Representing Jaipur Foot USA at the inauguration will be Ajay Patel, the organisation's Vice President for International Affairs and chief coordinator for the Trinidad project. He will be accompanied by founding members Dr Sona Ramdath Jr and Amit Alagh.

BMVSS founder and Chief Patron D R Mehta has deputed Gajender Lamba, an expert in prosthetic fabrication, who has already travelled to Trinidad & Tobago to conduct hands-on training for personnel from the country's Ministry of Health. The training focuses on the manufacture and fitting of the iconic Jaipur Foot, a low-cost, durable prosthetic limb designed for use in tropical and rural conditions.

The initiative builds on a successful 50-day camp held in Trinidad last year, during which more than 800 differently-abled individuals received prosthetic limbs free of charge. That camp was supported by the Government of India -- a commitment made personally by Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Port of Spain.

Bhandari paid special tribute to Dr Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, the Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad & Tobago, describing him as a driving force behind both the 2025 camp and the establishment of the now-permanent centre. "His pivotal leadership and significant contribution have made this lasting humanitarian initiative possible," Bhandari said.

The Jaipur Foot, developed in India in 1968, is one of the most widely used prosthetic devices in the developing world. BMVSS has rehabilitated more than 2.5 million people across 50 countries, through 120 international camps, making it a symbol of India's grassroots innovation in assistive technology.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul R
Great initiative, but I wish we could see similar permanent centres established in our own rural areas first. 2.5 million people helped globally is impressive, but India still has millions more who need access. Hope this doesn't become another photo-op moment. Let's focus on domestic needs too. 🤔
V
Vikram M
Excellent step by EAM Jaishankar ji! The Caribbean diaspora will feel this gesture deeply. Jaipur Foot is a symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat - made in India, serving the world. Kudos to all the organisations involved for making this permanent centre a reality. 🙏
M
Michael C
As someone who works in healthcare, I'm impressed by the cost-effectiveness of the Jaipur Foot. It's a durable design suitable for tropical climates, which makes it perfect for Caribbean nations. This is practical diplomacy at its best - helping people while building goodwill.
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Sneha F
Lovely to see India extending its tech and compassion globally! The 50-day camp last year helping 800+ people and now a permanent centre - this is how you build lasting partnerships. Also appreciate the training component for local health personnel. Sustainable development at its best! 🌟
A
Arjun K
While this is a nice gesture, I question why we're spending diplomatic capital and taxpayer money on projects abroad when our own healthcare system is strained and prosthetic access remains a challenge for many Indians in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Let's first ensure every Indian gets this facility, then talk about exports.

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