Parliament Question: Manufacturing of Prosthetic Device

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (DIVYANGJAN) LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2958 TO BE ANSWERED ON – 10/03/2026 MANUFACTURING OF PROSTHETIC DEVICE 2958. SHRI G M HARISH BALAYOGI: Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has formulated/plans to formulate a comprehensive national policy to ensure equitable access to quality prosthetic and rehabilitation care in the country; (b) the measures and institutional mechanisms in place for providing prosthetic devices and rehabilitation support to amputees, including through government-supported agencies and organisations; (c) the number of beneficiaries who have received prosthetic support during the last three years, including details of expenditure incurred and funds allocated, year and State-wise; (d) whether the Government has established standards/certification mechanisms to ensure quality, durability, comfort of prosthetic devices manufactured/distributed in the country, if so, the details thereof; (e) whether the Government plans to decentralise prosthetic and rehabilitation services through district-level centres, community-based technicians, tele-rehabilitation systems to improve accessibility, if so, the steps taken or proposed in this regard; and (f) whether the Government has considered integrating physiotherapy, psychological counselling, social reintegration support as part of prosthetic rehabilitation programmes, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B. L. VERMA) (a) and (b): The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act), 2016, mandates access to assistive devices and rehabilitation services under section 24(3) (f).i. Under the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances (ADIP) Scheme, funds are released to various implementing agencies for providing aids & assistive devices to eligible Divyangjan. ii. Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a CPSE under the Ministry, provides prosthetic fitting and rehabilitation services under the ADIP Scheme through its assessment and distribution camps, as well as through its Regional Marketing Centres and Pradhan Mantri Divyasha-Vayoshri Kendras (PMD-VKs). iii. 09 National Institutes under the administrative control of this Department provide rehabilitation services, prosthetic fitting, physiotherapy, and follow-up support. iv. Deendayal Divyangjan Rehabilitation Scheme under which grants-in-aid is provided to Implementing Agencies (IAs) for running the projects related to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, is aimed at enabling PwDs to reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric, and socio-functional levels and be included into society. There are eight types of model projects under the DDRS Scheme. (c): ADIP Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme and there is no State-wise allocation made under the same. There are different types of prosthetic devices which are distributed under the ADIP Scheme across the country, depending on the need of each beneficiary. The number of beneficiaries who have received prosthetic support during the last three years under the ADIP Scheme across the country, in different camps held in different States and UTs and across all PMD-VKs including, the details of expenditure incurred year-wise is as under: Sl. No. Number of Beneficiaries Value of Appliances (Rs. in Lakh.) FY 2022-23 3412 469.96 FY 2023-24 5307 940.70 FY 2024-25 7403 1169.46 (d): Under the Medical Equipment and Hospital Planning Department (MHD) of the Bureau of Indian Standards, the Assistive Products including Rehabilitation Appliances, Orthotic and Prosthetic Items Sectional Committee (MHD 9) is engaged in formulation of Indian Standards on Prosthetic and Orthotic devices. The scope of MHD 9 Sectional Committee includes formulation of Indian Standards for artificial limbs, prosthetic and orthotic appliances, and rehabilitation equipment. The list of standards applicable to Prosthetic devices (product specifications and methods of test) that have been developed by MHD 9 Sectional Committee are enclosed as Annexure-I. Further, under Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), assessment and fitment of prosthetic devices are carried out by qualified Prosthetics and Orthotics professionals registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). Production of Above Knee (AK) and Below Knee (BK) prostheses is undertaken at the High-End Prosthesis Shop (HEPS) at ALIMCO Kanpur with proper fitment and Gait Training to the beneficiaries.(e): The Government through ALIMCO is strengthening decentralized access to prosthetic and rehabilitation services through Pradhan Mantri Divyasha–Vayoshri Kendras (PMDVKs), which function as district and regional level service delivery centres. These centres provide facilities for beneficiary assessment, measurement, fitting and distribution of assistive devices under ADIP scheme, thereby improving accessibility. At present, ALIMCO operates 100 PMD-VKs across country, facilitating wider outreach and last-mile service delivery. (f): 03 National Institutes out of 09 work majorly in the field of Locomotor Disabilities viz., Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack, National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Kolkata, and Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (PDUNIPPD), Delhi provide comprehensive rehabilitation services through a multidisciplinary approach, which includes Physiotherapy, Psychological Counseling, and distribution of aids and assistive appliances to Persons with Disabilities. *****ANNEXTURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2958 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2026 REGARDING “MANUFACTURING OF PROSTHETIC DEVICE" Details of Standards on Prosthetic devices S.No. IS No. Title Type of Brief scope standard 1. IS Specification for Product This standard covers dimensions 17034 : Jaipur foot specification and other requirements of Jaipur 2018 foot, used as one of the parts of prosthetics system. 2. IS/ISO External limb Product This standard specifies 22523 : prostheses and specification requirements and test methods for 2006 external orthoses - external limb prostheses and Requirements and external orthoses, including the test methods following classifications from ISO 9999: 06 03 - 06 15 Orthoses 06 18 - 06 27 Limb prostheses It covers strength, materials, restrictions on use, risk and the provision of information associated with the normal conditions of use of both components and assemblies of components. 3. IS/ISO Prosthetics - Product This standard specifies a cyclic test 22675 : Testing of ankle - specification procedure for ankle-foot devices 2016 Foot devices and and foot units of external lower foot units - limb prostheses, distinguished by Requirements and the potential to realistically test methods simulate those loading conditions of the complete stance phase of walking from heel strike to toe-off that are relevant to the verification of performance requirements such as strength, durability and service life.4. IS Prosthetics — Methods of This standard specifies procedures 18665 : Structural Testing tests for static and cyclic strength tests 2024/ of on lower-limb prostheses which ISO Lower-Limb typically produce compound 10328 : Prostheses — loadings by the application of a 2016 Requirements and single test force. The compound Test Methods loads in the test sample relate to the peak values of the components of loading which normally occur at different instants during the stance phase of walking. 5. IS Artificial limbs - Product This standard lays down the dimensions, 12664 Sach foot for lower specification design parameters and material (Part 1) extremity requirements for construction of SACH foot : 2003 prostheses: Part 1 design and suitable for fitment in standard oxford type shoes of corresponding sizes. It covers foot dimensions (First Revision) sizes from 3 to 11 only. 6. IS Artificial limbs - Product This standard specifies the requirements of 14723 : Knee shin specification knee shin assembly, used by the physically 1999 assembly impaired persons to control the - Specification mobility of the knee joint. 7. IS 6812 Knee joint, Product This standard specifies the general : 2003 uniaxial for below specification requirements for the uniaxial knee joint, for knee below knee prostheses. prostheses - Specification (Second Revision) *****