Chandigarh, December 4
There is hope for the disabled. On the occasion of World Disabled Day that falls on December 3, many unfortunate people who have lost an arm or both of them will have a reason to rejoice.

Scientists at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) have developed an artificial arm that will replace the limb and at the same time provide an attached hand that is fully functional.

The two separate devices myoelectric arm and the voice operated electronic hand, have been built in a natural shape to provide functionality that is very close to the natural. The myoelectric arm for below the elbow prosthesis consists of gripping fingers, palm and wrist.

According to senior scientist, Dr Amod Kumar, the clinical trials on the arm have been completed and a tie-up has been reached with the National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped (NIOH), where these would initially be used on 500 patients before producing them on a commercial scale.

The arm is powered with a motor that picks up myoelectric signals from the stump, which in turn passes an impulse that opens or closes the hand.

Developed at the CSIO labs, the arm works on the principal of acquisition of myoelectric signals or through signal conditioning.

In the first case the electromyogram (EMG) signal is generated by the muscles during contraction and relaxation thereby making the arm and hand work.

In the signal conditioning too a signal of a few microvolts is used to move the arm.

The CSIO Director, Dr. Pawan Kapur, said that similar orthopaedic hands were imported at a cost of about Rs 4 lakh, but indigenously produced these would cost between Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 depending upon the level of sophistication of the artificial arm and the technique involved.

Initially the CSIO proposes the transfer of three version from its labs to the markets.

The first version that will cost about Rs 20,000 will use a remote that can be operated with the natural hand.

The second version that will tentatively cost about Rs 40,000 will use an EMG signal based on muscle contractions and relaxation and the third version that will cost about Rs 50,000 would be voice operated.

In the voice operated version, some selected words would be fed into the microprocessor that would in turn be trained to the voice of the users. After an initial training the arm will respond to voice and will understand words like “pick” “drop” “pull”, etc.

The scientists at the CSIO have nearly perfected an electronic arm too. Besides providing an aesthetic look to a person who has lost one or both hands, the voice operated hand will soon be available at a low cost.

The hand will have a two finger movement (open and close) thereby enabling a person to pick up light weights, etc.

The hand has been successfully tested at Saket Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped, Chandimandir. The hand can take three commands, “open”, “close” and “stop” making it functional for conducting small tasks. Though a low-cost product, the exact price will be worked out at the time of commercial manufacturing, Dr. Kapur said. 

Panchkula, December 4
Twentyseven children from the slums of Mauli and surrounding areas got a new lease of life. Like their friends, they will go to a regular school and attend classes courtesy Jiwan Mukat Nishulk Vidyalaya, an NGO working with slum children, beggars and urchins, in their city.

Admitted to Friends Public School, Mauli, the education of these children aged between four and nine years will be funded by the NGO. "We are working out the details with the school. However, they have extended facilities to us irrespective of these terms," Mansa Ram Ahuja, president and founder of the NGO said.

Uniforms of the children have been donated by a member of the NGO, Mr RK Sood, a resident of Sector 21. "It is only due to contributions like these that we have been able to educate nearly 1500 children begging in the marketplace and outside temples. It has been an uphill task getting the whole thing going but gradually the trend is picking up and more and more people are joining us in this endeavour," Mr Ahuja stated.

The group of 27 children was excited as they entered the school premises, sparkling in their brand new uniforms. From diverse backgrounds, they are scrap dealers' children, orphans , children of labourers and those of rickshawpullers.

"The parents were keen that their children study but did not have money to fund their education. So, we decided to step in and offer our services. Their one other condition was that the children study in Mauli itself so that there is no transportation cost involved in going to and coming back from school," Mr Ahuja explains.

At present, the vidyalaya is funding education of 567 children in various private schools. Nearly 1000 children are receiving informal education by staff at premises of temples in various sectors. The target group, however, continues to be illiterate beggar children.

Meanwhile, speaking about the fate of children studying at the Rotary building, Mr Ahuja said a couple of schools from Chandigarh had offered to bail them out in case Rotary decides to close it down. "In fact, they have also expressed willingness to take bright students from our informal schools on their rolls," he added. 

Chandigarh, December 4
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Chief Justice Vijender Kumar Jain and Mr Justice S.S. Nijjar today issued notice of motion for February 12 on a PIL filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann seeking an independent probe into the mysterious death of Manipuri boy Lairen Mayum Allestran Singh.

The body of the 16-year-old boy, who was expelled from Guru Nanak Public School, Sector 36, on November 17 for alleged misconduct, was recovered on November 20 from the Sector 15-16 dividing road.

His father, Mr Nirodosai Singh, who came to Chandigarh after the death, has raised serious doubts over the manner in which Lairen died. Later, it transpired that doctors at the Government Hospital, Sector 16 found a blood clot in his brain.

The police has ruled out the possibility of any foul play in the death as no visible injury marks were found on the body.

Even the school authorities have washed their hands off the issue, claiming that they had handed over Albestron to his Sector 15 guardian and thereafter had no information about his whereabouts.

In his PIL, Mr Mann has also prayed for directions to the states of Punjab and Haryana as well as the Chandigarh Administration to frame a comprehensive policy to deal with such student-related issues.

Today, after hearing Mr Mann’s counsel Ranjan Lakhanpal, the Bench issued notice of motion for February 12.