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Jaipur Foot / Jaipur Knee / Jaipur Limb

Project Leader Devendra Raj Mehta Organisation Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur (Raj) INDIA Designed By Jaipur foot was first designed by a team comprising Dr. P. K. Sethi, Master Ramchandra Sharma, Dr. Subhash Kasliwal and Dr. Mahesh Udawat. But they could not fit even 50 limbs in first seven years from 1968. In 1975, Mehta set up BMVSS to create an amalgam of Jaipur Foot Technology; special humane value system; patient centric management system and funding, with the result in the next 7 years 10,000 limbs fitted and now over 20,000 limbs fitted every year. By now, more than 4,00,000 Jaipur Foot / Limbs have been given by BMVSS. Regarding the further development of technology, Jaipur Foot and limb underwent large number of changes under the aegis of BMVSS, working under leadership of Mehta. For Jaipur Knee Mehta signed an MOU with the world famous Stanford University, which resulted in the development of Jaipur Knee, one of the 50-Best inventions of the world for the year 2009. Impact of Jaipur Foot / Limb, in form of its vast coverage all over India and the world particularly for the poor marginalized patients / victims in providing limbs is enormous. Equally significant feature is the speed with which limbs are provided (maybe in 1 to 3 days). These have been possible because of the Research & Development work in BMVSS by itself or with its collaborators, special management system and patient centric approach. Project Location Jaipur, Rajasthan, India Project Website www.jaipurfoot.org Project Category Product Name of nominating Icsid Member organisation Tata Exsi - India

A brief explanation of the project

Jaipur Foot / Knee / Limb transformed lives of hundred thousands of amputees all over world by re-providing them with lost mobility and dignity. TIME Magazine (issue of Fall 1997) says – “………Jaipur Foot, that has revolutionized life of millions of landmine amputees”. BMVSS, under leadership of Mehta has provided limbs to over 4,00,000 amputees by now.
Prof. C. K. Prahlad in his classical book “Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid” rates BMVSS as world’s largest organization for Limbs. While, group in the SMS Medical College, Jaipur, developed Jaipur Foot, it could hardly fit 50 limbs in seven years before BMVSS was set up by Mehta. In the next seven years BMVSS fitted 10,000 limbs. Now every year BMVSS fits over 20,000 limbs against 8,000 limbs fitted through International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under its Special Fund for Disabled.
The collaboration between Stanford University and BMVSS resulted in development of four-bar linkage polycentric knee joint which according to TIME Magazine (issued 23rd Nov 2009) is one of the 50-Best Inventions of the world for the year 2009. More than 2600 such knee joints have been provided.
With Jaipur Foot / Limb a below knee amputee walks, runs, squats, climbs a tree /mountain, drives bike or car. He is like a normal human being. He goes back to his field, factory and shop and is rehabilitated economically and socially also. The impact thus is manifold. Above knee amputee with Jaipur Knee is almost near him.

How will receiving the World Design Impact Prize raise awareness of this project and further develop its impact?

The prize by your distinguished organization will make Jaipur Foot / Knee / Limb even better known particularly, in the professional world encouraging more and more experts to make further improvements in the design of these products for the benefit of hapless amputees. The book of Prof. C. K. Prahalad had done it earlier. Many institutions and countries approached us for adopting this high quality but low cost technology for the amputees in their jurisdictions. Similar development took place ensuing the highlighting of Jaipur Knee by the TIME Magazine (issue of 23rd Nov 2009).

What are the benefits this project has had, and will continue to have, on the community of interest and how will it "create a better world through design"?

Jaipur Foot / Limb has been designed to mimic normal human foot / limb in terms of movements, functions and cosmosis. It restores mobility and dignity to amputee. Besides, its cost (borne by BMVSS for its patients) is hardly US$ 45 against US$ 10,000 for a comparable limb in USA. It makes one segment of health care affordable even for most poor.
Besides, it is so easy to make.
With violence in many parts of the world and automobile accidents, number of amputees will continue to grow. They will get movement and rehabilitation through this most affordable device.