Srinagar, Nov 30: “Samarthya – Centre of Excellence” in Prosthesis and Orthotics unit of Voluntary Medicare Society or VMS, a prestigious project was formally inaugurated by Jagannath Sahoo, President & COO, SBI Foundation and Dr Mir Mohammad Maqbool, founder president of VMS.
The project is an initiative aimed at providing assistive and adaptive devices, prosthetic and orthotic support to persons with disabilities across Jammu and Kashmir UT. The project is supported by SBI Foundation and SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd. and implemented by Voluntary Medicare Society, said a press release.
A distinguished delegation of five dignitaries from SBI Foundation and SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd. attended the program. The high level SBI delegation headed by Jagannath Sahoo, President & COO, SBI Foundation included Srikanta Dash, DGM & Chief Operating Officer, SBI Pension Funds Pvt Ltd., Shashi Bhushan, Vice President, CoE for PwDs, SBI Foundation, Raj Manek, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd., and Shri Vikas Dubey, Assistant Manager, CoE for PwDs, SBI Foundation
The inaugural ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries and civil society members including Prof. Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray, Principal SKIMS Medical College Bemina, Dr. Mehmooda, Assistant Director, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir; Prof Masooda Yasin, Vice President VMS; Dr. Farooq A. Kaloo, Secretary VMS, executive board of VMS and Administration.
The event commenced with the inaugural address by Prof Dr Mir Mohammad Maqbool, who highlighted the vision of VMS to strengthen rehabilitation services and enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities. Following the inaugural speeches, Dr Bashir Ahmad Lone, Director VMS, presented a brief and insightful PowerPoint presentation highlighting the legacy, services, and impact of VMS, followed by an overview of the objectives, components, and implementation plan of the SAMARTHYA project.
A few inspiring success stories of beneficiaries who received prosthetic, orthotic, and adaptive support under the project were also highlighted, demonstrating the transformative outcomes and renewed independence achieved by them. Prof Dr Fazlul Qadir Parray, Guest of Honour, appreciated the collaborative effort and emphasized the significance of such interventions in improving the quality of life of beneficiaries. Jagannath Sahoo, President & COO, SBI Foundation, in his address, expressed deep appreciation for the longstanding work of VMS in the disability sector. He reiterated SBI Foundation’s commitment to promoting inclusion, empowerment, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across the country.
