IIT-Madras launches ‘Arise’, India’s 1st standing wheelchair
Chennai: Premier technical varsity, Indian Instituteof Technology, Madras, on Tuesday launched the country's “first indigenously” designed standing wheelchair, which will enable a differently abledperson shift from sitting to standing position.
Named ‘Arise’, the standing wheelchair was launched in the presenceof union minister of social justice and empowerment Thawarchand Gehlotat the institute here. IIT, Madras “in collaboration with Phoenix Medical Systems haslaunched India's first indigenously-designed standing wheelchair,” it said.
“It enables a differentlyabled person requiring a wheelchair to shift from sitting to standing position, and vice versa, independentlyand in a controlled manner,” a release from the university said.
It was designed and developed by the the institute’s TTK Centre for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development, headedby Prof Sujatha Srinivasan in the department of mechanical engineering. Since 2015, with CSR support from TTK Prestige,the Centre wasinvolved in research related to human movement, influence of orthotic and prosthetic devices on human movement, and the development of mechanisms, products and assistive devices for people with impairments,it said.
“Thanks to a novel massmanufacturable mechanical design .... And Phoenix's manufacturing capabilities, Arise will be made availableat affordable prices,” it said.
Mr Gehlot lauded IIT, Madras for its initiative, and also recalled the Narendra Modi government’s various welfare measures for the ‘divyang,’including setting up five national-level sophisticated sports centres.