Humane Social Policy & Value System

BMVSS tries to be an organization with a difference. It is not content with the form only. It has evolved a social policy and a value system which is sensitive, humane and patient caring.

The first and the foremost concern of BMVSS is that the dignity and self respect of the patients must be maintained and if possible enhanced. This aspect has to be specially addressed because of the peculiar characteristics of our patients. The amputees who come to the centers of BMVSS suffer not from one but three disabilities. Obviously they are physically handicapped making them dependent on their kith or kin and loosing self respect. Secondly, they are often poor and below the poverty line. In fact, many of them had been poor before they became handicapped and became poorer because they ceased to be economically productive. This also makes them loose their self reliance, self respect and dignity. Thirdly, at least some of them are uneducated.

Particularly in India there is one more problem. Large number of the patients live in rural or remote areas.

These factors make the problem of the handicapped complex and multi-faceted. But one common streak is the loss of status and confidence.

Taking these in to account BMVSS practices the following policy:

• FREE ASSISTANCE:- The assistance in form of limbs, Calipers, and other aids & appliances are being given totally FREE OF CHARGE. At times we face criticism for pursuing this policy. The argument is that if any assistance is given free it is not appreciated, but our situation is that almost 90% of our patients are below poverty line and cannot even pay 5% of our cost of appliances incurred by us. By insisting the payment of even US$ 2 or Rs. 80/- from the patients would literally tantamount to their being told that since they do not have even this small amount they must get out. BMVSS being a social organization cannot subscribe to or become a part of such an in-compassionate system. For BMVSS money is not the measure of everything.
• HELP NOT CHARITY:- while the assistance is being given free it is ensured that BMVSS, its donors and its beneficiaries recognize such assistance as help and not Charity. Psychologically it is recognized that assistance given as charity demeans both the giver and the taker. The recipient particularly looses his self-respect. The constant effort of BMVSS is that the support given is treated as one provided to a brethren rather than a charity to a poor person.
• EQUALITY:- The assistance is being provided without any distinction of  caste, creed, religion or region. Among our other beneficiaries are Hindus (including Scheduled Castes and Tribes), Muslims Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and others. Handicapped persons from all parts of the country visit our centers. Our centers at Jaipur and other places have been described as ‘mini-India’ with all its diversity and underlying unity.
• PROPER TREATMENT - Patients are treated with respect as human beings. They are attended to individually and cordially.