The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) Report, 2002, estimates the number of disabled people in the country to be 18.5 million out of which over 10 million have some kind of locomotor disability.
A majority of users of conventional wheelchairs lack control over their lower limb musculature and require considerable effort, assistance and/or aids to get to a standing position. The ability to attain and maintain a standing position is greatly beneficial to the health, self-esteem and sense of well being of a wheelchair user.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) on Tuesday launched India’s first indigenously-designed Standing Wheelchair.
It is called as ‘Arise’. Arise is a manual wheelchair with an inbuilt feature that allows the user to independently rise to a standing position.
Arise was launched by Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India at IIT Madras Research Park.
Arise is designed by TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development(R2D2),IIT Madras , manufactured and marketed by Phoenix Medical Systems and, funded by Wellcome Trust.
