Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
        
Mumbai, December 18: “Social thinking blended with a scientific approach will benefit a large number of handicapped persons”, opined D R Mehta, founder and chief patron of Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) in Jaipur on Monday December 17.

Messiah for the physically challenged and provider of Jaipur Foot, D R Mehta was conferred with Mother Teresa Memorial Award 2012 by Indian Development Foundation (IDF) at a function organized at Deepsmriti Auditorium, Tagore International School, Mansarovar, Jaipur. 

Serving the cause of the handicapped and providing dignity with mobility to the needy people have been the passion of D R Mehta.

D R Mehta received the honour for his outstanding contributions to the welfare of the physically challenged through Jaipur Foot and touching thousands of lives.  The Samiti under the able leadership of Mehta emerged as the largest organization for the handicapped in the world providing artificial limbs/ calipers and other aids and appliances free of charges to more than one million beneficiaries.  The next in the row is offering a helping `Jaipur’ hand and BMVSS is all set to come out with a Jaipur Hand in collaboration with Stanford University, USA, said Mehta with a smile.
       
D R Mehta praised IDF’s efforts to improve health care and education for the underprivileged children of the country through a novel scheme of Bal Gurukuls. The contributions of IDF in spearheading leprosy elimination and India’s development need to be appreciated by the people. Mehta highlighted the holistic sustainable model adopted by IDF in translating socio-economic equality in national development projects. 

He also stressed on the importance of self-reliance in managing social programmes.  Mehta congratulated the best NGO-partnership of Indian Development Foundation and Sarthak Manav Kushthashram in Rajasthan in the areas of health and education.
       
P D Singh, chairman, Tagore Group of Institutions, Jaipur and Dr Ratanjit Singh Sondhe, founder, Discover Help Foundation, Ohio, USA highlighted the importance of students’ participation in social development projects with a human touch.  Presenting the honour, P D Singh said Mehta championed the need for the physically challenged and provided dignity with mobility through Jaipur Foot.
      
Suresh Kaul, president, Sarthak Manav Kushthashram congratulated D R Mehta in setting a life example of uprightness and trusteeship concept as enunciated by Mahatma Gandhi.  He complimented IDF for its unremitting work in the field of health, education and rural development.
       
Dr A R K Pillai, founder president of IDF presided over the function. He congratulated D R Mehta for his sterling contributions to the welfare of the handicapped people.

Dr Pillai said IDF has been bestowing Mother Teresa Memorial Award on personalities who have been the change-makers of India.  Dr M S Swaminathan received the similar honour in 2010 and N R Narayana Murthy received in 2011. The first award was presented to Dr P D Mehra, president, Sarthak Manav Kushthashram, Jaipur in 1997.

Rotarian Aunali Rupani, trustee, IDF and Dr Narayan Iyer, CEO, IDF joined the students from Tagore International School to greet D R Mehta. Kamal Rathore, principal, Tagore International School welcomed the gathering and congratulated D R Mehta on receiving the prestigious award.