Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Lightweight callipers given to polio-affected

Staff Reporter

Made of polypropylene they weigh only 300 gm

SPREADING HOPE: A girl being measured for lightwieght callipers at a camp organised by Lions District 324 B5 in association with Lions Club of Coimbatore Stalwarts in Coimbatore on Monday. - Photo: K. Ananthan

COIMBATORE: About 65 polio-affected people were given lightweight callipers at a camp organised by Lions District 324 B5 in association with Lions Club of Coimbatore Stalwarts here on Monday.

The crowd, mostly children, had been brought by their parents from in and around the city. Some of them were from Sirumugai, Karamadai, Palladam, Avanashi, Valparai, Udumalpet, Sathyamangalam and Tirupur.

The callipers were made of polypropylene and weighed only around 300 gm whereas normal callipers weighed around 3 kg, G.L.Balaji, President of Lions Club of Coimbatore Stalwarts, said.

"Heavy callipers make walking very difficult, especially for children," he said. The new callipers were ten times stronger than the normal ones and made walking easier for children, he added.

The concept of new lightweight callipers for the polio affected was initiated by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Managing Director of BrahMos Aerospace, A.Sivathanupillai. More than 12,000 polio-affected children were fitted with these and the results showed that they could walk better, C.G.V.Ganesan, Governor, Lions District 324 B5, said. It would be an ongoing project of Lions Clubs all over the country, he added. The callipers, which cost Rs.1,000, fitting included, would be given free to those who have been selected for the camp.

The two clubs were planning to cover 1 lakh children. The camp, which will be on till February 23, is expected to benefit more than 300 polio-affected people in Coimbatore. About 75 people who attended the camp would be given an opportunity to meet the President when he visits the city on February 24.

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