April 25, 2024 12:55 (IST)
Ministry of Science and Technology develops relatively low-cost wheelchair for the differently-abled people
New Delhi, Jan 28 (IBNS): Union minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan dedicated to the nation on Thursday a low cost motorized wheelchair, called Locomo, developed by the Department of Biotechnology under the Make-in-India initiative.
The Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Harsh Vardhan, on Thursday, dedicated a low cost motorized wheelchair called Locomo wheel chair to people with disabilities.
The wheel chair has been developed by the ministry's Department of Biotechnology, (DBT) under the Make-in-India initiative.
The motorized wheelchair was originally designed at the Human Engineering Research Lab, University of Pittsburg under a joint international collaborative program of DBT and the US government.
The wheelchair was then completely remodelled to suit Indian conditions.
The Medical Director & Chief of Spine Service Dr. H S Chhabra and Nekram Upadhaya at ISIC further worked on the wheel chair to make it suitable for the uneven terrain in rural India and lower the cost of manufacturing.
Prohibitive costs often deter people with disabilities from buying wheelchairs available in the market.
Estimated cost of this newly designed wheel chair called Locomo would be around Rs 45,000 compared to the imported motorized wheelchair which costs around Rs 1.5 lakhs.
The cost of the Indian version is expected to come down with mass production and tax exemptions.
One of the key features of the Locomo wheel chair is its suspension system where linear links will allow all four wheels to operate independently and make it suitable to handle uneven terrain also.
The Locomo wheel chair is expected to withstand rugged conditions and at the same time be comfortable and easy to manipulate It is also light weight, simple to handle, easy to fold and reassemble.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said all such technical advancement should be made accessible the needy poor also.
Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, VijayRaghavan, Dr. Rajesh Kapur, Advisor DBT and Padma Bhushan Major (Retd) HPS Ahluwalia, the Chairman of the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, (ISIC) New Delhi were present at the event.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
UN officials launch global campaign to combat climate emergency Wed, Apr 24 2024
Satellite imagery shows significant expansion in 27% identified glacial lakes in Himalayas: ISRO Tue, Apr 23 2024
Taiwan hit by 93 aftershocks, strongest touches 6.3 magnitude Tue, Apr 23 2024
World Meteorological Organization data shows heatwave deaths increased across almost all Europe in 2023 Mon, Apr 22 2024
Google marks World Earth Day with a unique doodle which gives a strong message to people Mon, Apr 22 2024
Vattikuti Foundation announces Brady-Vattikuti Robotic Academy hands-on masterclass in Urology Sat, Apr 20 2024
WHO expresses concern over spread of avian influenza to humans Fri, Apr 19 2024