Indian Army Along With CSR Arm Making J&K ‘Saksham’

Indian Army and the CSR arm of the Spark Minda Foundation collaborated to empower the disabled people in Zangli Garrison Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir through their six days of ‘Empowerment of People with Disabilities Camp’ from 21 to 26 August 2023. 

Through this mega camp, more than 1,000 disabled people are provided artificial limbs, callipers, crutches, and hearing aids, in addition to this the centre also facilitates disabled people with the registration of Unique Disability ID (UDID). 

The programme initiated by Spark Minda Foundation is known as "Saksham - Empowerment of People with Disabilities", One of their flagship programmes has been focused on transforming the lives of People with Disabilities (PwDs).

Addressing the audience on the last day of camp, Major General Girish Kalia, Vishisht Sewa Medal, General Officer Commanding Vajr Division said this is the beginning of long pledged service to enable the potential of ‘Divyangjan’ across the valley of J&K. 

He extends his heartful gratitude to the people of the valley for participating on a huge scale. Major General, Kalia also appreciated the Spark Minda Foundation for their noble initiative.

Role Of Army  

This is the second successive camp in Kupwara before this with the collaborated efforts of the army and foundation another camp was organised in Baramulla and Uri. The army plays a pivotal role in making the camp successful, they are aligned to bring the disabled people from remote LOC (Line of Control) villages who do not have many resources to treat their critical disability. Apart from bringing disabled people into the camps, the army is helping them to get the best way to make the disabled people strong for the rest of their lives. 

The beneficiaries present in the waiting areas of the camp confessed that this would not be possible without the help of the army. 

Benefits Of Government Programmes 

Living in remote areas and their disability make the valley people deprived of many government policies. The registration of UDID will help them to get the benefits of all the government programmes. The disabled people who came across the J&K Valley are struggling to get the benefit of a number of prominent policies of the Central government, the UDID registration promised them to get cover under the same. 

Establishing Cordial Relationship 

The camp witnessed the coming of disabled people from the remote LOC areas, who eventually extended their heartful gratitude to the army and the foundation. In the last several decades, people who survived amidst hostilities and have been deprived of their basic amenities are now taken care of at every front making them thankful to the army. 

They are able to walk, listen and receive basic medication through these camps, the large participation of people across the valley signifies the inclusion and cordial relation between the army and the people.