A mobility initiative in Kolkata has provided customised wheelchair equipment to 32 wheelchair users, with the programme also supporting 28 beneficiaries in Siliguri and 60 people across West Bengal, according to Sanmarg – Kolkata.
The distribution was organised by the Mobis India Foundation as part of a national programme valued at Rs 6.3 crore. The programme is assisting 600 wheelchair users across eight states and Union territories, with the stated aim of improving independent mobility and access to education, employment, healthcare and social activities.
The equipment was supplied in collaboration with Neomotion, an assistive technology company developed at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. Beneficiaries received NeoFly wheelchairs and NeoBolt motorised devices after assessments of their physical conditions and individual mobility requirements.
The emphasis on assessment and customisation is significant for users whose mobility needs may differ substantially. Rather than distributing a uniform product, the programme assessed each beneficiary before adapting the equipment to their physical condition and requirements, the report said.
The Kolkata event was attended by officials from the National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (Divyangjan), including director Dr Lalit Narayan, deputy director Sougata Banerjee, assistant director Dr Ameid Iqbal and Prakash Sahu, head of the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Representatives of the Mobis India Foundation included CSR head Santosh Srivastava, CSR executive officer Infant Roshina, logistics deputy general manager Sushant Kumar Behera and assistant manager Sudeep Chakraborty.
Roshina said the initiative was intended to help persons with disabilities become self-reliant and encourage them to live with dignity. Narayan said mobility equipment designed around individual needs plays an important role in increasing independence and social participation.
The West Bengal distribution forms part of the wider national programme, which is scheduled to reach 600 wheelchair users across eight states and Union territories. The supplied report did not provide details on the other locations, the programme’s implementation timeline or arrangements for maintenance and follow-up support for the devices.
