Respected Hon’ble Prime Minister,

We, the undersigned citizens, disability advocates, healthcare professionals, and members of civil society, write to you with utmost hope and urgency to petition the Government of India to include Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) treatment under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY).

As per 2018 NSSO survey, over 61 lakh persons with movement-related disabilities (PwDs) live in India.

Those living with locomotor disabilities depend on prosthetic limbs, orthotic supports, callipers, and wheelchairs for functional independence and dignity. However, the cost of high-quality assistive devices and rehabilitation services—often ranging between ₹50,000 – 5,00,000 —remains a prohibitive barrier, especially for families with annual incomes below ₹5 lakh.

While schemes like ADIP (Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids/Appliances) and NGO-led initiatives such as Jaipur Foot have provided support for the poorest of the poor, these programs typically offer limited technology. Devices using advanced modern technologies can empower persons with disabilities to contribute to India’s growth story—as demonstrated by the 25 medals India won in Paris 2024 Paralympic, a living testimony to what quality assistive technology enables.

Global studies show that every ₹1 invested in assistive technology yields up to ₹9 in economic returns by increasing employment, productivity, and reducing long-term dependency. Yet today, only 23% of PwDs in India are employed compared to 47% of the general population.

There are proven use-cases within India itself: the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) has successfully provided over 1,000 beneficiaries with advanced prosthetics for more than seven years. This demonstrates that inclusion of P&O in state-sponsored health insurance is both feasible and impactful.

While ABPMJAY has been a revolutionary step in expanding access to healthcare for India’s poorest, the exclusion of prosthetic and orthotic treatment leaves millions of PwDs without essential mobility and rehabilitation support, directly affecting their education, employment, and social inclusion.

We therefore respectfully urge the Government to:

1.      Include Prosthetic and Orthotic treatments using modern technologies under ABPMJAY benefit packages, covering artificial limbs, Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses, spinal braces, foot orthotics, wheelchairs, and other prescribed mobility and assistive devices included in the National List of Essential Assistive Devices.

2.      Create a dedicated sub-package for rehabilitation and post-operative care for amputees and persons with locomotor disabilities.

3.      Empanel accredited P&O centres for standardized service delivery in assessment, fitting, and follow-up.

4.      Enable approved P&O centres to partner with empanelled public and private hospitals for smooth integration of P&O services within ABPMJAY.

The inclusion of P&O services under ABPMJAY will not only align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, but also help India meet its commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

This reform is not merely about medical treatment—it is about restoring dignity, independence, and productivity to millions of Indians. It resonates with the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and strengthens the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).

We believe this will be a historic and transformative step that restores mobility, hope, and equal opportunity to millions of fellow citizens with locomotor disabilities.