AP Red Cross, Rotary Launch ‘Cheyutha’ to Provide Free Prosthetic Hands
In a major humanitarian initiative aimed at supporting persons with limb disabilities, the Andhra Pradesh State Branch of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), in collaboration with Rotary International, has launched the “Cheyutha” project to provide free LN4 prosthetic hands to eligible beneficiaries across the state.
The initiative seeks to improve the lives of children and adults who have lost their hands or forearms due to congenital conditions, accidents, occupational injuries, infections, road mishaps, and natural disasters. The loss of a limb often affects an individual’s confidence, education, employment opportunities, and overall quality of life, especially among economically weaker families who struggle to access affordable prosthetic care.
The Cheyutha project is being jointly implemented by AP Red Cross and Rotary International with support from the Tangience Foundation, USA. Under the programme, the project team aims to identify people with hand disabilities across Andhra Pradesh and provide them with high-quality LN4 prosthetic hands free of cost.
The initiative also focuses on helping beneficiaries regain independence in performing daily activities, while improving their social inclusion, educational opportunities, and livelihood prospects.
As part of the programme, the AP Red Cross plans to collaborate with the Department of Welfare of Differently Abled, Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons in all districts to identify eligible beneficiaries. District-level screening, fitting, and training camps are also expected to be organized in major locations across the state.
To raise awareness about the initiative, a special awareness poster for the Cheyutha project was formally released on Tuesday by Surya Kumari, Secretary to Government, Department of Women Development & Child Welfare, Welfare of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, in the presence of Y.D. Rama Rao, Chairman, P. Ramachandra Raju, Vice Chairman, and B.V.S. Kumar, State Coordinator of AP Red Cross.
Speaking on the initiative, B.V.S. Kumar said, “Through the Cheyutha project, our aim is to ensure that no eligible person in Andhra Pradesh is deprived of mobility, dignity, and independence due to financial constraints. We appeal to the public and organizations to help us identify those in need.”
The awareness posters will be circulated across districts to inform the public about eligibility criteria and camp schedules. AP Red Cross has appealed to voluntary organizations, hospitals, educational institutions, rehabilitation centres, and district authorities to support the initiative by identifying deserving beneficiaries.
