Free Prosthetics for people in need... CM Stalin's highly beneficial scheme

Krishnagiri: Tamilnadu government introduced a scheme which provides free prosthetics to physically challenged people. Pasavaraj, the beneficiary of this scheme shared his story.

Pasavaraj was from a hill village called Pettamugilam in the Krishnagiri district. While taking care of his cattle during the last Pongal festival, he was attacked by his cattle on the farm. This attack affected his nerves in the limb which further caused him to lose his whole leg. But the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu gave him a new life by providing free artificial limbs transplantation.

While sharing his story Pasavaraj said, "I lost my leg during the last Pongal celebration. My cattle attacked me. I was completely bedridden for six months. My whole life changed upside down. Only then got to know about the wonderful scheme of the Tamilnadu government through the Collector of Krishnagiri. After the needed process, CM Stalin himself gave this artificial limb free of cost along with the entire cost of the treatment. CM Stalin gave me this new life".

Pasavaraj's father shared, "I spent nearly ₹5 lahks for my son in six months. I tried hard to save his limb. But we couldn't. And today my son got his life back with the aid of CM Stalin".

Pasavaraj's doctor Gangadevi said, "When Pasavaraj met with the accident, he lost his limb. When he arrived at our hospital for treatment we sent a request letter to the district collector. Through him, Pasavaraj met CM Stalin who gave him an artificial limb under the 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' scheme. After fixing the prosthetics, Pasavaraj was provided with needed treatments and also physiotherapy. Initially, he couldn't even stand using the artificial limb. But after 3 weeks of continuous exercises, he was able to walk. He is totally perfect now".

Doctor Gangadevi is serving the people of this hilly region under the TN Government's 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' scheme. For the past year, along with Pasavaraj, Doctor Ganga has been treating numerous people under this medical scheme introduced by CM Stalin.

Another Doctor Marai Thendral from the same team shared, "Many people in this hilly region are getting treated for various reasons. Our team's main objective is to treat people who lost their physical organs like hands or limbs by birth or due to accidents. We wish them to function individually without anyone's support. Under this scheme by the Tamilnadu Government, anyone without an age bar can get treated. We as a team will visit the patient in person and treat them. Our team is responsible for making recommendations to the government on what a patient is in need of.

Anyone who wishes to get treated under this scheme should contact the District Medical Officer in their respective districts. Patients could directly approach the medical officer who in turn will send the Mobile Medical Team to the patient's residence. The medical team will do the research and proceed further.

Even a pregnant woman could get benefitted from this scheme. There is no need for a pregnant woman to visit hospitals. The government's mobile medical team visits them personally and provides them with the needed medical assistance. Anyone who is in need of any kind of medical assistance should contact this team under the 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' scheme".

CM Stalin donated ₹2 lakh worth of prosthetics for free:

Pasavaraj couldn't afford to get artificial limbs. But CM Stalin provided ₹2 lakh worth of prosthetics for free. Moreover, the government also provided free treatments further. This scheme is beneficial to many people who are in need. Artificial limbs were procured from a Bangalore-based company. The Tamilnadu government took Pasavaraj directly to that centre, took measurements, and then fixed the prosthetics after many examinations.

Pasavaraj spent ₹5 lahks without proper knowledge of this scheme:

Artificial limbs or hands are not common for everyone. Each patient is different in physical conditions and medical conditions. Without any proper knowledge of this scheme, Pasavaraj spent ₹5 lahks for initial treatments. He took treatment from a private hospital which was more than his affordability. If he would have contacted the 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' team he could have gotten treated for free. So the need for proper awareness of government schemes is the need of the hour.

'Kannoli Kappom' scheme by Karunanidhi:

A medical teammate Malarvizhi shared, "In Tamilnadu, there are two major schemes that are most essential. One, the 'kannoli kappom' scheme and then, the 'Varum mun Kappom' scheme by former CM M. Karunanidhi. Under the 'kannoli kappom' scheme, a medical team will inspect schools every month in every district. The team does eye checkups for school children. If there is a need, a child will be provided with all the needed treatments free of cost. My team is under inspection in this same hill village".

Hospital at a budget of ₹28.40 crore by CM Stalin:

Director of a Government Rehabilitation Hospital which is functioning solely on transplanting artificial limbs Doctor Jayakumar says, "In the 1960s for the first time in India, an artificial organ-producing centre was inaugurated in Tamilnadu. A few months back, CM Stalin allowed a whopping budget of ₹28.40 crore for expanding this centre. It will be the biggest hospital in India with the most number of bed facilities. Under CM Stalin's medical scheme, modern medical technologies are infused to treat people.

Initially, the Tamilnadu government charged a minimum cost to provide artificial limb transplantations. But now it is provided free of cost. This saved nearly ₹3 lahks to ₹5 lakhs for patients from buying artificial limbs. They get free prosthetics as well as treatment from the Tamilnadu government. More than this Physiotherapy, follow-up exercises also be taught and provided free of cost. The patient can get discharged after getting completely cured".