Srinagar, Nov 30: The Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS) on Saturday formally inaugurated Samarthya – Centre of Excellence, a prosthetics and orthotics initiative aimed at expanding access to assistive and adaptive devices for persons with disabilities across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The project is supported by the SBI Foundation and SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd.
The facility was inaugurated jointly by Shri Jagannath Sahoo, President & COO, SBI Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Mir Mohammad Maqbool, founder-president of VMS.
A five-member delegation from SBI Foundation and SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd. attended the event. The delegation included Shri Srikanta Dash, DGM & COO, SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Shashi Bhushan, Vice President, Centre of Excellence for PwDs, SBI Foundation; Shri Raj Manek, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd.; and Shri Vikas Dubey, Assistant Manager, CoE for PwDs, SBI Foundation.
The inauguration was attended by several medical and civil society representatives, including Prof. Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray, Principal SKIMS Medical College Bemina; Dr. Mehmooda, Assistant Director, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir; Prof Masooda Yasin, Vice President VMS; Dr. Farooq A. Kaloo, Secretary VMS; members of the VMS executive board and other stakeholders.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mir Mohammad Maqbool outlined VMS’s vision to strengthen rehabilitation services and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. Dr. Bashir Ahmad Lone, Director VMS, delivered a presentation on the organisation’s legacy and services, followed by an overview of the objectives and implementation plan of the Samarthya project. The presentation also included case studies of beneficiaries who have received prosthetic, orthotic, and adaptive support through the initiative.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Dr. Fazlul Qadir Parray appreciated the collaboration between VMS and SBI Foundation, noting its importance in improving quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Shri Jagannath Sahoo commended VMS for its longstanding work in the disability sector and reiterated SBI Foundation’s commitment to supporting inclusive and community-centred rehabilitation. He said Samarthya aligns with the Foundation’s mission to expand access to quality rehabilitation services and assured continued collaboration.
Students from Shafaqat School presented cultural and motivational performances during the event. Assistive devices were distributed among several beneficiaries, who also interacted with the SBI team and guests.
VMS management felicitated the visiting dignitaries from SBI Foundation and SBI Pension Funds Pvt. Ltd. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Farooq A. Kaloo, who expressed gratitude to all supporting organisations, guests and participants.
According to VMS, the Samarthya project represents a major step toward strengthening rehabilitation services and ensuring wider access to assistive technologies across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. An SBI delegation also held detailed discussions with VMS regarding implementation plans.
