The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) handed over the next batch of 24 indigenously developed YD One active wheelchairs to the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC), Pune and Command Hospital (Southern Command) [CH (SC)], Pune, advancing a 100-wheelchair programme supported by Fiserv through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
This handover follows the delivery of the first 25 wheelchairs to Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, in June 2026. With the latest delivery, 49 wheelchairs have now been handed over under the programme, which aims to expand access to active mobility solutions within rehabilitation settings serving Armed Forces personnel.
The event was graced by the presence of Surgeon Vice Admiral Dilip Raghavan, VSM, DGHS (AF); Maj Gen Radhakrishnan S, MG (Med) Southern Command; Brig CN Satish, Commandant, ALC Pune; Brig K Venkatnarayan, Deputy Commandant, CH (SC) Pune; and other senior Army officials.
Brig CN Satish, Commandant of the ALC Pune has played a significant role in facilitating the induction and handover of YD One Wheelchairs to the Armed Forces.
The YD One wheelchair was developed at IIT Madras’s TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2), with co-design inputs from wheelchair users, and is manufactured by Thryv Mobility, an IIT Madras-incubated assistive technology company. Designed to enable users to propel themselves independently, the wheelchair offers an alternative to conventional institutional wheelchairs and introduces active mobility as an important component of rehabilitation.
The deployment of these wheelchairs at ALC Pune is intended to support the Centre’s rehabilitation efforts by making active mobility solutions available to its beneficiaries. For serving personnel, veterans and other eligible beneficiaries undergoing rehabilitation, access to suitable mobility devices can open up opportunities for greater independence, participation and confidence in everyday life.
The programme reflects the impact of collaboration across research institutions, industry and the Armed Forces. By combining IIT Madras’s expertise in assistive technology, Fiserv’s CSR support and Thryv Mobility’s manufacturing capabilities with the rehabilitation ecosystem of the Armed Forces, the initiative seeks to translate indigenous innovation into meaningful support for those who have served the nation.
Brigadier CN Satish, Commandant Artificial Limb Centre, Pune, said, “A wheelchair is much more than a mobility aid; it is a means to freedom, independence, dignity and inclusion. At Wheels of Dignity, we celebrate the role of innovative, user-centric assistive technology in enabling people with disabilities to pursue their ambitions, access opportunities and participate fully in society. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that everyone has access to the right mobility solutions and the support they need to live life on their own terms. Through initiatives like this, we can move closer to a more inclusive world where disability is never a barrier to opportunity or participation.”
