Over five hundred phys­ically challenged persons without limbs or arms can now smile with joy following the benevolence of Ishk Limb Centre, which has provided them with free prosthetic limbs.These artificial limbs would enable them to become mobile, independent and empower them to be financially sustainable.Speaking at the opening cer­emony, the Programme Director of Ishk Limb Centre, Ms Neha Mehra, said the donation to 511 beneficiaries would go a long way to make them mobile; earn liveli­hoods that would impact positive­ly on their lives.She noted that the aim of providing the limbs was to make the beneficiaries dependent, employable and avoid begging for a living.She said Ishk Limb Centre is one of the offshoots of Ishk To­laram Foundation, a philanthropic organisation that strives to allevi­ate poverty and promote educa­tion, healthcare, and skills training to underserved individuals in Indonesia, Singapore, Nigeria and several other Africa countries.According to Ms Mehra, the foundation has been creating pos­itive impact within communities through philanthropy, responsible investing and sustainable business practices.She said this was the first time Ishk Limb Centre was donating and fitting free prosthetic limbs on beneficiaries in Ghana and hoped the items would be put to good use.According to her, the Centre has provided over 9000 of such limbs to beneficiaries in Nigeria alone.Mr Matthew Annor Kodom, National President of Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, thanked Ishk Limb Centre for the donation, saying it would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of beneficiaries."We are highly elated because it costs between GHC 3000 and GHC6000 to buy a prosthetic limb so we are bless to have them for free," he stated.He explained that the society has over one million members; he therefore prayed the donor would continue to come to the aid of the Society.The Chief Executive of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Mr Freeman Tsekpo, lauded the benevolent work of the Centre, noting that it would improve the lives of many underprivileged persons.He urged beneficiaries to develop a new mindset about themselves and learn to always wear the limbs so as not to de­pend on others."If you do not learn to use it well your condition will remain the same," he stressed.Mr Tsekpo said the Assem­bly has decided to direct the disabled's share of the Common Fund and Internal Generated Fund to support them start up businesses of their own.He advised them to submit their business proposals to the Assembly for scrutiny and possi­ble approval.He said the Assembly was in the progress of acquiring a parcel of land to build an office and playground for people with disability. FROM IAN MOTEY, ASHAIMAN