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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 | The Indian Eye 22

Jaipur foot uSa & Gracious Givers foundation host

community event in honor of meenakshi lekhi

Minister of State for External Affairs says the diaspora acts as the goodwill ambassador of India

Our Bureau will ambassadors for the coun- level playing for India on inter- was related to 6 million-plus
New York, NY try, and their achievements in national research and develop- OCI cardholders who suffered
the professional, business, and ment in the medical field. tremendously since 2019 due
aipur Foot USA and Gra- education fields add value to Prem Bhandari also ex- to cumbersome renewal regula-
cious Givers foundation the country’s goodwill. She also tended his heartfelt thanks to tions and administrative issues
Jwelcomed Ms. Meenakashi appreciated the contributions of Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla, when one is traveling with OCI.
Lekhi, Minister of State for Ex- the powerful Indian community Foreign Secretary of India for These regulations are eased,
ternal Affairs and Culture at the in helping the country whenev- extending the partnership to made simple and frequent OCI
Jan Aashirwad Abhar event or- er in need. She also highlighted organize another 12 prosthetic renewal is not required. Earli-
ganized in New York City. Mr. the COVID pandemic impacts fitment camps on a historical er, there were many difficulties
Randhir Jaiswal, Consul Gen- in India and the capacity to deal day, Aug 5th, 2020. Under this and to name a few, the most
eral, New York, was also pres- with such grave situations and partnership, BMVSS already difficult one was the necessi-
ent at the event. Alok Kumar, coming together to dealing with conducted the first prosthetics ty to renew OCI every 5 years;
former FIA president, did the these. fitment camp last December in every time foreign passport is
introductions. Mr. Prem Bhan- The contributions of the Uganda. Mr. Bhandari voiced renewed, OCI needed renewal
dari, Jaipur Foot USA Chair- Indian community, including words of Padma Bhushan, D.R. due to regulation to carry the
man and social activist, strong doctors & nurses, oxygen help Mehta, Founder & Chief Patron passport which has OCI stamp
voice for the Indian diaspora during COVID was commend- of BMVSS, about the bravery along with the new passport un-
spoke at the event. He spoke able. She also voiced that the of our leg-warriors, who con- til the age of 20 years, as well
about the difficulties the Indian whole world is one big family ducted this Uganda camp in the as renewal of OCI at the age
diaspora faced due to lockdown and each member country sup- middle of the COVID pandem- 50 again. As a result of this re-
and travel restrictions that came ported each other during the ic. He also expressed that Jaipur quirement, 1000s of passengers
into place during COVID and COVID crises, considering the Foot USA is working under the and their families around the
the help, and excellent support COVID infections and waves guidance and mentorship of Mr. world were not allowed to trav-
received from MEA and secre- going in circles affecting the en- Mehta and his vision to expand el without carrying old expired
taries from Home, External Af- tire world. She also highlighted the help of the prosthetic within passport with OCI number and
fairs, and Civil Aviation. India’s contributions through India and abroad. it caused emotional pain and
He also briefed about the providing vaccines and other Another important point resulted in significant financial
partnership of BMVSS, the par- required help to the world. She Mr. Bhandari brought forward loss and logistical nightmares.
ent organization of Jaipur Foot also praised honorable PM Na-
USA and MEA under India rendra Modi ji and the timing of
for Humanity banner to con- his leadership and the serious
duct prosthetics fitment camps health crisis India and the world
to help differently-abled peo- is going through.
ple around the world and rein- She mentioned that bureau-
force India’s soft power. He also cracy has been in place before
thanked honorable Prime Min- and will be in the future, but
ister Narendra Modi ji, the guid- the way current leadership un-
ing force and blessed this part- der Shri Modi ji is taking right
nership. The host countries very decisions at the right time and
well received these 13 camps drive bureaucracy relentlessly
and BMVSS helped over 6000 to implement these decisions so
differently-abled people. The people on the ground get help
Government of India provided and positive impacts very quick-
funding for all these 13 camps ly. She also praised Shri Modi
and the Ministry of External ji’s quick decision-making, al-
Affairs offices coordinated and locating Rs 3000 crore for vac-
facilitated these prosthetics fit- cine research to enable medical
ment camps. scientists to conduct research
Ms. Meenakashi Lekhi, and development rolling out
Minister of State for External vaccines in less than one year,
Affairs and Culture, spoke on which used to take years. This
occasion. She highlighted that is a great achievement for our
Indian diaspora acts as good- Indian scientists and is a great

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