Limb centre in limbo

patiala: the artificial limb centre of rajindra hospital, patiala, which was established in 1995 to provide artificial limbs and clippers to the handicapped persons, has itself turned into a handicapped institute for the want of funds. the government of india had established 11 such centres at that time, out of which patiala centre was established to represent the northern region.earlier, the government was providing a rs-80,000 grant every year to run the centre and to provide artificial limbs to the needy at noprofit-no-loss. due to the quality of its products, this centre earned a good name throughout the country. besides, the experts working here also earned a reputation for making the attachments enabling disabled person to work like average persons. but today these are merely memories of the good days. the policies of the government are responsible for the deteriorating condition of the limb centre. in 1976, the government had asked the authorities concerned to make efforts towards self-reliance and started reducing the financial assistance. in 1995, the government withdrew all the subsidies which proved a blow for the centre. moreover, the government never bothered to fill the vacant posts due to which the employee strength reduced from 18 to just 6. however, the centre has all the required gadgets and machinery to prepare artificial limbs, belts, shoes, collars and clippers, but there is no raw material. earlier, 1,200 to 1,500 handicapped persons were availing the facilities provided by this centre but now the number has reduced merely to 300 to 400 persons. dr bhupinder singh brar, incharge of the centre, said that despite all the shortcomings, the centre was still able to provide comparatively better services. he disclosed that their rates were much less as compared to the rates being charged in the open market, but now the centre was forced to ask the needy persons to arrange raw material from the open market. financial aid being extended in shape of artificial limbs and clippers by social welfare bodies is the only help which is keeping these centres alive.