India provides 622 Tanzanians with artificial limbs

ARUSHA: MORE than 622 Tanzanians with physical disabilities have received free artificial limbs through special treatment camps organised by the Indian High Commission in Tanzania.

The initiative forms part of the High Commission’s ongoing humanitarian outreach ahead of India’s 80th Independence Anniversary in August 2027.

Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania Bishwadip Dey said the camps had provided 653 Jaipur Foot prosthetic limbs to 622 men, women and young people from across the country, helping restore their mobility and dignity.

Speaking during the annual Kalakendra Night with the Indian community in Arusha over the weekend, Mr Dey said trade between Tanzania and India had grown by more than 300 per cent over the past five years.

Arusha District Commissioner Joseph Mkude, who graced the event, commended the High Commission for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NMAIST) to strengthen cooperation in digital technology training.

As India prepares to mark its 80th Independence Anniversary in 2027, trade between the two countries reached 9.02 billion US dollars in 2025/26, reflecting strong bilateral ties.

Figures show that India is among Tanzania’s top five investors, with investments worth 4.7 billion US dollars across 814 projects.

India also provides about 1,000 Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) training slots and 135 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships annually to Tanzanians, the highest allocation to any African country.

Over the past two years, about 40 students from Arusha Region have benefitted from fully funded ICCR scholarships.

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The ICCR programmes, including the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme, enable Tanzanian students to pursue undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and PhD studies at accredited Indian institutions.

As part of efforts to expand outreach, pre-International Day of Yoga events were held in 35 towns and cities across the country.

“We had a successful session in Arusha with over 700 participants. On June 21, 2026, about 2,500 yoga enthusiasts attended the main event at Gymkhana Grounds in Dar es Salaam,” Mr Dey said.

The High Commissioner also hosted an event dubbed “Celebrating the Elders” to mark Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, featuring documentary films on prominent members of the Indian diaspora produced by students of the Indian School in Dar es Salaam.