Citizen Social Responsibility (CSR): High-schooler does crowdfunding for 300 amputees

Veer Agrawal, a 9th grade student from American School of Bombay was all smiles on the successful completion of the four day ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp for which he had raised funds to the tune of INR 14 lakhs. The funds raised enabled the ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp held at Risod in Washim district of Maharashtra in November 2018.

About 350 physically challenged people from nearby districts visited the camp, out of which about 300 were found fit for the treatment with prosthetic leg and were able to walk again. Over a dozen were also provided with wheel-chairs. Amputees as well as polio affected persons were among those who benefitted from the camp.

Expressing his joy at helping people regain their mobility, Veer says, “A road accident some years ago resulted in a thigh bone fracture that left me bedridden for weeks. The agonizing experience always haunted me and motivated me to do something for physically challenged people hailing from a financially weak background and help them to experience the joys of walking once again. I learnt about the ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp and decided to set up a crowdfunding campaign on a website (http://vhelptowalk.org).” The camp was organized through Seth Bhagwandas J Agrawal Charitable Trust. His parents supported him in this noble initiative.

About raising funds for villagers, he says, “On the internet, I found out that there are many needy people in rural India who did not have access to and could not afford a prosthetic limb. This motivated me to take up this cause in rural parts. It is fulfilling to see them walk again.”

Fitting an amputee with the ‘Jaipur Foot’ costs about INR 5,000 per patient. The artificial limb is customised to fit the patient as per their size and post fitment the patient is able to walk normally again.

Subscribe