Latest news with #ChandigarhSpinalRehab
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Guv praises courage, willpower at Chandigarh Spinal Rehab
The Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria visited Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, Sector 28 on Friday and took a round of the available facilities. The governor also interacted with patients and shared words of encouragement with them. The Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria visited Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, Sector 28 on Friday and took a round of the available facilities. The governor also interacted with patients and shared words of encouragement with them. (HT Photo) Addressing the gathering, Kataria described the centre as a sacred place where giving up is not an option. He praised the patients for their courage and willpower, saying, 'This is not merely a programme, but a celebration of inner strength and renewed spirit. Many of you have turned adversity into a beacon of inspiration for others.' Applauding the dedication of the entire team at Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, he added, 'You don't just provide treatment — you instill dignity and self-respect.' Kataria also promised continued government support for such institutions. The governor also said that the efforts made by founder Nicky P Kaur, are unique and not many people take up such a noble and challenging initiative. The inmates presented Vande Mataram - A short musical performance by Flowing Karma- India's first Band on Wheels. An audio-visual presentation on Chandigarh Spinal Rehab was also organised on the occasion.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Chandigarh: Chandigarh administrator Kataria launches anti-drug awareness campaign
Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh Gulab Chand Kataria, on Friday formally launched the 'Anti-Drug Awareness Campaign' started by Punjab Unaided Colleges Association (PUCA) in Chandigarh. In his address, Kataria termed this campaign as the need of the hour and an important initiative towards social change. 'Zero tolerance for drugs is not just a slogan, it should become a lifestyle of society,' he said. The Governor said that drug addiction is a social and national crisis, which slowly destroys the body, mind, relationships and future. Kataria said that the participation of more than 250 colleges in this campaign shows that it is no longer just an organisational initiative but has taken the form of a mass movement. He thanked PUCA president Dr Anshu Kataria and her team for this commendable effort and said, 'your effort is going to give a new direction to the youth'. He stressed the need to free the youth from addiction and connect them with employment and purpose. The Governor urged the colleges to regularly organise mental health sessions, counselling, sports, cultural activities and de-addiction workshops so that students get a positive environment. At the end of the programme, Kataria made the students, teachers and representatives of the institutions present take a collective pledge of, 'No to Drugs, Yes to Life.' He also visited Chandigarh Spinal Rehab in Sector 28, interacted with patients, and shared words of encouragement. He described the centre as a sacred place where giving up is not an option and praised the patients for their courage and willpower. 'This is not merely a program, but a celebration of inner strength and renewed spirit. Many of you have turned adversity into a beacon of inspiration for others.' Applauding the dedication of the entire team of Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, he added, 'you don't just provide treatment, you instil dignity and self-respect' and vowed continued government support for such institutions. Kataria added that the efforts made by founder Nicky P Kaur are unique and not many people take up such a noble and challenging initiative.
Indian Express
22-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
At this Chandigarh rehab centre, paraplegics regain purpose, pride and even earn paycheques
Written by Nivedita and Amanpreet Thakur At Chandigarh Spinal Rehab, a quiet transformation is unfolding. Here, individuals once bedridden after spinal or brain injuries are learning to bounce back and even earn their livelihoods—working as delivery executives, accountants, kitchen supervisors, and peer trainers. They are performing in bands, playing for the country, winning medals, and inspiring others to live with purpose and pride. Founded in 2016 by Nicky P Kaur, who had no medical training but a deep calling to serve, the centre was born out of a life-changing encounter. While running a bakery in Amritsar, Kaur met Manmeet, a quadriplegic man living independently. 'Moved by Manmeet, I vowed to empower people with devastating disabilities such as spinal cord and brain injuries,' she says. Among the many who have rebuilt their lives here is Ajay Raj from Jharkhand. Paralysed below the neck after an accident in 2006, Ajay arrived at the centre in 2017 for a mouth-painting workshop. His only wish was to support his family and not depend on them. With a chin-operated wheelchair, mouth-pen phone access, and therapy ranging from hydro to occupational, Ajay began to flourish. He now manages social media and the kitchen at the centre and has represented India in international tournaments for boccia, a precision ball sport. After bagging a bronze at the 2024 World Boccia Challenger in Bahrain, he returned from the World Cup in China just last week. 'There was a time when I prayed to God to take me. Now I say—no, I have more to do. My aim is the Olympics,' he says. Many like Ajay have found new strength—and adventure—here. Residents go on curated outings and participate in awareness events, including an unforgettable 2018 paramotoring initiative titled Wheelchairs with Wings. The centre also provides advanced wheelchair training, helping individuals reintegrate into society with confidence. From a delivery girl to a wheelchair band member, the success stories here are nothing short of remarkable. Take Flowing Karma, India's first band on wheels, launched in 2019. Featuring Trideep Chaudhary, Rajiv Kumar, Sandeep Singh, Ajay Raj, Rahul Singh, and Ashish Verma, the band has performed at public events including the Punjab Governor's residence on Republic Day. Another shining example is Vidya Kumari from Bihar. After an accident in 2007, she spent 11 years at home before joining Chandigarh Spinal Rehab. There, she discovered para-sports and has since won over a dozen medals in table tennis—including international wins in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. She also became India's first wheelchair-using Swiggy delivery girl. 'When we leave this world, we shouldn't feel like we didn't try,' she says. There's Lal Singh, paralysed in May 2023 and abandoned by his father, now working as an accountant at the centre. And Kaushalaya Devi from Himachal, left paralysed after a seizure in 2005 and abandoned by her husband, who today participates in archery competitions, fashion shows, and paragliding. 'I call this my new birth,' she says. 'Acceptance, the first step' From Tamil Nadu, Kumaresan Anandhan—now an international para-athlete in javelin and shot put—recalls his despair after a 40-foot fall in 2009. Rehab changed that. 'Acceptance is the first step to recovery,' he says. 'Life does not end after injury. There is still so much to do.' At the centre of all this is Nicky Kaur, whose vision continues to guide Chandigarh Spinal Rehab. But the demand is growing, and she points to the urgent need for more space, funds, and beds. While spinal injury centres are slowly increasing in India, there is still a dearth of dedicated rehabilitation facilities for brain trauma, she says. The centre today provides holistic, affordable rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke, cerebral palsy, and more—including care for the elderly and children with special needs. With therapies ranging from physiotherapy and pain management to pressure ulcer care, it stands as a beacon of hope. 'About 80 per cent of those we rehabilitate go on to lead productive, independent lives,' says Kaur. 'When God wants something done, He gives us the strength to do it. And when I see smiles on these faces, I know I have succeeded.' (Nivedita and Amanpreet Thakur are interns with The Indian Express)
