Mohali, Dec.6: The Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre (PRC) at Mohali near Chandigarh is devoted to make life more meaningful for soldiers who have lost or damaged their limbs while fighting the enemy of the country.

The Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre imparts vocational training to the former soldiers suffering from disabilities to enable them to live a dignified and economically independent life.

The skills include trades like weaving, knitting, tailoring, candle making and wire brush making.

Anil Jha, who had become paraplegic after suffering an injury during action, turned to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre for assistance.

"Before coming to this place, my life was full of despair, particularly, after all my children went to other places to pursue higher studies. I came here in January 2004. I feel confident and happy after learning various skills at this place,” said Anil Jha, another PRC in-patient.

“When a patient comes here from the hospital, he is totally disabled. He can't even drive his wheel chair. After he comes to the centre he learns everything. Here one learns how to lead life," he added.

Thirty seven soldiers of the Indian Army are presently receiving rehabilitation therapy at the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre here. Twenty-four of them are paralysed below the waist while the other 13 have all limbs paralysed.

The idea of setting up a Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre was mooted in the early '70s to rehabilitate army personnel who suffered spinal or other injuries resulting into a state of paraplegia or tetraplegia.

"The objective of establishing PRC is to rehabilitate 100 per cent disabled paraplegic and tetraplegic army men with a view to motivate them. We also provide them with vocational training so that they can be self-reliant," said Colonel (Retired) Jaswant Singh Spehia, Director PRC, Mohali.

The centre provides facilities like medical treatment, physiotherapy, physical exercise, sports and computer training to enable in-patients to become self-reliant.

The first Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre came up in 1974 at Kirkee and the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre at Mohali was set up in 1978. (ANI)