It is also a kind of freedom to roam without any help under the open sky, on the roads, in the narrow streets, in the fields, in the markets. This freedom becomes limited for those handicapped people when they have to depend on someone else for every small and big work. According to a report, about 3 lakh wheelchairs are sold in India every year. Out of this 2.5 lakh i.e. two-thirds are imported. 95% of this wheelchair are of the same size, which is not even comfortable for everyone.
In view of the suffering of such people, the team of IIT Madras passes out Swastik Saurav Das and his professor Sujatha Srinivasan has taken an initiative. These people are making personalized wheelchairs under their new startup 'Neomotion', with the help of which any handicapped can make a wheelchair according to their own. This electric wheelchair is India's first indigenous motorized wheelchair. It can ride on any type of road even on rough terrain. Its speed will be 25 km per hour. So far, wheelchairs have been sold to more than 600 people across the country. These people have also given free wheelchairs to about 150 needy people.
Swastik Saurav Das, 30, hails from Odisha. He has done his graduation and post-graduation from IIT Madras. From the very beginning, Swastik wanted to work for social change. In the final year, he got an opportunity to do research under his professor at the Rehabilitation Research Design and Disability Centre, IIT Madras. During the research, they met about 200 handicapped people who used wheelchairs in 40 cities of India.
Those people told that most of the wheelchairs available in the market are of the same size, which does not fit everyone. After prolonged use, other physical problems start to occur. Swastik says that after meeting people, I came to know about their real problems. People told that after sitting for a long time, there is pain in the waist, back, and shoulder. On the other hand, wheelchairs are not useful to go far, one has to depend on others.
There are currently two types of Personalized Wheelchairs under Neomotion. One Neofly and the other Neobolt. The Neo fly type wheelchair can be modified in 18 ways according to health and lifestyle. Whereas a separate motor has been installed in the wheelchair with Neobolt. The motorized wheelchair can travel up to 25 km on a single charge. Not only this, but it also gets safety features like brakes, horns, lights, and mirrors. It can be easily traveled on bumpy roads, in fields, even on roads and flyovers.
Also, parking is not a problem. It can be parked anywhere easily. Swastik explains that our motive behind the Neomotion startup is to make wheelchair users independent. 4 If they come out of the wall, they can also go out like ordinary people, they can do all their small and big works on their own.
Swastika tells that their aim is to make people's life easier. That's why he has kept a special team of physiotherapists in his team. Those who make video calls to the customers after getting the order. Understand their needs from them. Do their physical assessment. After this, customized wheelchairs are prepared according to them.
Regarding marketing, they tell that we are doing marketing both online and offline. We have tied up with many hospitals where our products are supplied. Along with this, we have retailers in many cities of the country, who market our products. We have a website and social media for online marketing, from where people can order wheelchairs as per their wishes. We deliver the product to their address in the shortest possible time.
They state that the Neofly Wheelchair is priced at Rs 39,900 and the Neobolt Motorized Wheelchair is available for Rs 55,000. Along with this, we also offer an easy EMI option. Its order can be pre-booked on our website by paying one thousand rupees.
They say that by 2025 our target is to reach one lakh people. Soon we are going to market our product outside India also. People from many countries are showing interest in this. Regarding funding, Swastik says that he has got help from the Government of India and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Apart from this, both the partners have also invested their savings.
A provision has been made to help the financially weak people. Swastik explains that Neomotion wheelchairs are more expensive than the commonly available wheelchairs. To help the needy people, our team prepares a database of such people. We find sponsors for them, sometimes the sponsors themselves come forward for donation. In this way, we give free wheelchairs to the needy. So far we have distributed more than 150 wheelchairs free of cost. In the future, we are going to increase its number even more rapidly.
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