Why don’t you provide modern prosthetics to Army personnel: HC

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Artificial Limb CentreThe Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre why it was not providing modern prosthetics to armed forces personnel who lost their limbs in the service of the nation.
“The soldier who lost their arms during the wars, if something is done for their good, they will be grateful to you (Centre),” a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said.
Taking note of the submissions made by an association, Disabled War Veterans (India), that modern prosthetics are not being given to them though the same is given to government employees, the court asked the government lawyer to “take instruction over the issue raised before it by July 22”.
The court was hearing a PIL, which has alleged that it has found, through a Right to Information application, that “government employees are being provided modern prosthetics and the same is being approved by the concerned departments. However, the Armed Forces Personnel are not being treated accordingly.”
The PIL states that there are seven categories of persons who are covered under Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and these are ex-servicemen drawing pension/disability pension, widows drawing family pension, spouse of the pensioner, unemployed sons below 25 years, unemployed and/or unmarried daughters, dependent parents whose income is less than Rs 1500 per month and mentally/physically challenged children of army personnel.
It has contended that as per information received from the government, there is no policy in place for “empanelment of facilities which provide orthotic and prosthetic care to ex-servicemen”. The PIL said retired affected personnel of armed forces continue to get limbs and prosthetics manufactured by Artificial Limb Centre (ALC), Pune, which “are out-dated models, heavier in weight, uncomfortable in use and not comparable with other limbs produced by the private players”.

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