Brig. J.S. Grewal, VSM (Retd.)
In the remotest nooks of Jammu & Kashmir, amidst natures beauty in all its pristine serenity, is located the town of Poonch, a place of divinity, communal harmony and peace. Poonch has never witnessed any communal disturbance, something that adds to its honourable fame. In the town of Poonch, true to its image of philanthropic service (Khidmat), spirit of sharing and mutual sacrifice, is situated a Non Government Organisation (NGO), known as The Pritam Spiritual Foundation (Registered as Trust). The Trust has flourished now for more than 25 burdensome and traumatic years, but has carried on with its cherished aim of providing superb free medical aid to the poor and needy, which includes eye patients, the deaf, dumb and the differently abled of all age groups, irrespective of their creed, caste or religion.
The Pritam Trust was in the news recently when it had organised a Medical Aid Camp at Poonch from 10 to 14 November 2016, especially sponsored by the local Army formation despite the prevailing volatile situation at the LoC. Highlights of the Camp were the provision of hearing aids, 81 artificial limbs, 20 orthopedic shoes, calipers, 20 crutches and tri motor bikes to amputees of limbs, victims of polio and other deformities. The tale of Pritam Trust is an interesting one, and needs to be told because of its steadfast presence as a messiah amidst the ongoing turmoil in J&K. Working ceaselessly over the years, despite the rugged, harsh terrain and inclement weather, the Trust members have reached out to victims of mine blasts, accidents, natural calamities in remote, inaccessible areas, with support from the Army units located in these areas, and have rehabilitated scores of these victims. Even during the ignominious floods that had caused havoc, the Pritam Trust, alongwith the Army, had rendered yeoman’s service for rescue and relief.
The hazardous task of construction of houses and parapet walls, that are raised alongside buildings, roads and tracks to safeguard from the debris falling from the mountain sides, requires ferrying and pilling of stones. People working on such tasks are prone to lose their limbs and sometimes even their lives. These accidents leave a trail of hapless victims. There are people with an amputated leg or arm, even people with both arms and both legs amputated, or with both hands crushed and amputated. Such helpless innumerable victims in the remote areas of J&K would have been left to their fate, uncared and un-aided, but for the Pritam Trust, which locates such casualities by seeking assistance of teachers and health workers from rural, remote areas. Persons in need of treatment for eyes, hearing problems, other ailments, and those requiring artificial limbs, are also located and identified in a similar manner. It is a tedious process to locate and identify persons who require such treatment, Messages are relayed through word of mouth for such patients to assemble on specific dates at the
relevant camps held by the Trust at various locations, that is, at Naushera, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Bhadarwah and in Srinagar District. Thereafter, doctors are assembled for treatment of patients.
Even ailment specific camps are held separately for eyes patients and for those suffering from hearing problems and various diseases. In such cases, specialist doctors, such as, eye surgeons, E.N.T. and medical specialists are assembled. Doctors of the Army are of immense assistance. However, persons requiring surgery are taken either to Jammu or Delhi. The Army also helps in conducting numerous surgeries at their hospitals. Lately eyes surgeries for 42 eyes patients were held at the Army’s General Hospital at Rajouri. The trail of victims requiring artificial limbs has at times been so large and un-ending, that the Pritam Trust had to set-up a full-fledged Artificial Limbs Fitment Centre at Poonch itself to provide artificial limbs in situ, that is, artificial legs, arms, crutches, polio calipers, wheel chairs, tricycles and walking sticks. Ordinary repairs to artificial limbs are now handled at the Fitment Centre by the Trust’s trained technicians. For artificial limbs, the Trust seeks assistance from the Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Kota, and Rajasthan to manufacture and
provide artificial limbs (the ‘Jaipur Foot’ and prosthetics).
Technicians of BMVSS are brought to the artificial limbs fitments camps in J&K, or it requires transporting such persons requiring fitment of artificial limbs to Delhi, Chandigarh or elsewhere, wherever the technicians are available. The Trust then transports such an entourage comprising of the old and young, ladies and even children requiring fitment of artificial limbs collectively to such locations in the country and back. While on treatment related tours, these persons are also taken to visit historical and other places of interest as part of Bharat ‘Darshan’ and Bharat ‘Jodo’ endeavours.
(To be continued)
