'Therapy on Wheels' to get honour at UN meet

Abhinav Vashisht

Kullu, January 24

Samphia Foundation, an NGO, has been selected for the Zero Project award, which will be given at the United Nations Headquarters in Austria (Vienna) during a conference from February 23 to 25. Therapy on Wheels is one of the 76 innovations out of 30 countries that will be recognised at ZeroCon22 for their proven and impactful commitment to reduce barriers for persons with disabilities.

Therapy on Wheels is a unique initiative started by Samphia Foundation’s Aash Bal Vikas Kendra in November 2020. This mobile clinic on bus is equipped with a treadmill, therapy balls, positioning blocks, therapy toys, books, flash cards, physiotherapy modalities, portable speech, audiology equipment and first aid tools. The project was funded by the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, New Delhi.

Kids with disabilities in India’s mountainous regions often don’t have access to early intervention therapy. Handicapped children of Kullu district who cannot come to the Centre are being provided door-to-door therapy services.

Ever since the project has come to the fore, it has become the center of attraction for its technical facilities because it is the first such project in India in which therapy services are provided to the disabled people inside a vehicle by going to their doorstep.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur have also appreciated it.

Foundation’s directors Shruti More Bhardwaj and Rekha Thakur, programme manager Biju said it was a matter of great pleasure.