Lanco's first artificial limb fitting centre opened in K'taka

Udupi, Karnataka, Oct 16 (UNI) The Lanco Institute of General Humanitarian Trust (LIGHT), the corporate social responsibility wing of Hyderabad-based power major Lanco Group, today launched its first artificial limb fitting centre in Karnataka here today.

Briefing the activities of LIGHT at the inauguration of the centre here, Lanco Vice-President and LIGHT Trustee G Bhaskar Rao said the centre, with all facilities here, was the fourth one set up by LIGHT, after Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, Korba in Chattisgarh and Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. Artificial limbs, calipers and other items as prescribed by doctors would be given free of cost to disabled people from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

He said LIGHT, set up in 2000 with the main objectives of providing drinking water (Sujalavahini), rehabilitation of the differently abled (Shraddha), supporting traditional arts (Satkala) and supporting sport activities (Sadhana), had dug 720 borewells in 300 villages in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh and distributed over 10,700 mobility aids through the three centres.

Mr Rao said LIGHT was already operating four power plants to produce a total of 600 MW power in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and work on other projects to produce a total of 3,500 MW in States like Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal were in various stages of progress.

He said LIGHT, in its resolve to save the traditional art of making Kondapalli toys and get export value, had gone in for geographical indication and registration of the artisans.

Medical Education and district incharge Minister Dr V S Acharya, who inaugurated the centre, said the coalition Government had decided to provide one psychiatrist in each taluk panchayat in the State. In India, two per cent of the total population were affected with some sort of mental illness, which was comparitively lower than the global average. But in terms of disability, Karnataka had a higher percentage than the national average, he noted.

UNI MA GD SKB1819