Author – Ritesh Ranjan: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has taken another important step in strengthening India’s assistive technology ecosystem by handing over the first batch of 25 YD One ultra-lightweight wheelchairs to Army Hospital Research and Referral in Delhi Cantonment. The initiative is part of a larger 100-wheelchair programme supported through Corporate Social Responsibility funding from Fiserv, a global payments and financial technology company.
The handover is significant not only because it supports the rehabilitation needs of Armed Forces patients, but also because it demonstrates how Indian research, startup innovation, corporate funding and user-led design can come together to create meaningful social impact.
The YD One wheelchair is an indigenous mobility solution designed and manufactured by Thryv Mobility, an IIT Madras-incubated startup. The wheelchair was developed at the TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development, also known as R2D2, at IIT Madras. The centre has been working on assistive devices that are designed specifically for Indian users while matching global standards of quality and performance.
A New Approach to Mobility and Rehabilitation
For many people, a wheelchair is often seen only as a medical support device. However, the YD One represents a different way of thinking. It is not just a hospital wheelchair meant for assisted movement. It is an active, ultra-lightweight wheelchair designed to help users self-propel and move independently.
This distinction is important in rehabilitation environments. Recovery is not only about treatment, therapy or physical healing. It is also about rebuilding confidence, independence and dignity. A well-designed wheelchair can help patients regain control over their movement and participate more actively in everyday life.
The wheelchairs delivered to Army Hospital will be used in its rehabilitation programme. Patients, including serving personnel, veterans and dependents, will be introduced to active mobility as part of their recovery journey. For many users, this could change how they experience rehabilitation by showing that independence is achievable with the right assistive device.
Why the IIT Madras Handover Matters
The delivery of the first 25 wheelchairs marks the first phase of a larger commitment. A total of 100 YD One wheelchairs will be provided under the programme. This makes the initiative more than a symbolic gesture. It creates a practical pathway for bringing advanced mobility solutions to those who need them in a structured healthcare and rehabilitation setting.
Speaking at the event, Lt General Avinash Das, Commandant of Army Hospital Research and Referral, highlighted that mobility is closely connected to dignity and independence. His remarks reflected the deeper purpose of the initiative. The project is not simply about donating equipment. It is about enabling patients and families to regain mobility through devices that are designed and built in India.
The handover also matters because it supports patient-centred rehabilitation. Instead of relying only on generic institutional equipment, the initiative brings in a device created with direct user input. That makes the wheelchair more relevant to real-world needs, especially for people who require regular and independent mobility.
Indigenous Design with Global Standards
One of the strongest aspects of the YD One wheelchair is its indigenous design. Developed at IIT Madras’s R2D2 centre, the wheelchair reflects the institute’s commitment to creating assistive technologies that are suitable for Indian conditions while meeting global benchmarks.
Prof. Manish Anand of IIT Madras and R2D2 stated that the handover aligns with the centre’s mission of developing indigenous engineering solutions for rehabilitation and assistive technology. He noted that taking a product from lab research to service delivery for Armed Forces patients is a meaningful example of academic innovation creating direct social value.
This is especially important for India. Assistive technology has often been an underfunded and underserved area. Many high-quality mobility products are either imported or too expensive for widespread use. Indigenous development can help address this gap by making advanced devices more accessible, affordable and suitable for local users.
The YD One wheelchair shows that India has the capability to build world-class rehabilitation technology at home. It also shows how academic institutions can play a major role in solving real healthcare and accessibility challenges.
The Role of Thryv Mobility
Thryv Mobility, the IIT Madras-incubated startup behind the YD One, has played a central role in transforming research into a real product. The company focuses on high-quality active wheelchairs and user-centred mobility solutions.
A key feature of the YD One’s development process is that wheelchair users were involved directly in the design. This is critical because people who use wheelchairs every day understand challenges that may not be visible to engineers, hospitals or institutions. Factors such as weight, maneuverability, comfort, durability and ease of self-propulsion can make a major difference in daily life.
Mr. Justin Jesudas, CEO and co-founder of Thryv Mobility and a wheelchair user himself, said the YD One was designed and built in India without compromising on quality. For him, seeing the wheelchair reach Armed Forces patients through IIT Madras and Fiserv is a strong validation of the purpose behind the product.
This user-led philosophy gives the YD One an important advantage. It ensures that independence is not treated as an additional feature, but as a core design goal.
Civil-Military Collaboration for Social Impact
The project also highlights the value of civil-military collaboration. Rear Admiral Deepak Bansal Retd, Professor of Practice at IIT Madras and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Thryv Mobility, has played an important role in connecting academia, industry and the military healthcare ecosystem.
Such partnerships are essential for moving innovation from laboratories to the people who need it. Many promising technologies remain limited to prototypes or pilot projects because they do not find the right institutional support or deployment pathway. In this case, IIT Madras, Thryv Mobility, Army Hospital and Fiserv have created a model that connects research, manufacturing, funding and real-world rehabilitation.
For Armed Forces patients, the impact can be deeply personal. Access to a suitable wheelchair can improve mobility, confidence and participation in daily activities. For the broader assistive technology sector, the initiative sends a strong message that Indian innovation can deliver practical and scalable solutions.
CSR Funding That Creates Real Outcomes
Fiserv’s CSR support has made the 100-wheelchair programme possible. The company’s role shows how corporate social responsibility can support areas that often require long-term investment, such as disability technology, rehabilitation aids and inclusive healthcare.
Mr. Sachin Kulkarni, President of Global Services at Fiserv, said the company’s CSR approach focuses on nurturing partnerships that create meaningful outcomes. He described the collaboration with IIT Madras as an example of engineering excellence being used for a social mission.
This is a powerful example of CSR moving beyond one-time charity. When corporate funding supports research-backed, user-designed and scalable solutions, it can produce lasting impact. In this case, the funding is helping an indigenous assistive device reach patients who can benefit directly from it.
A Milestone for Assistive Technology in India
The handover of the first 25 YD One wheelchairs is more than a delivery milestone. It represents a larger shift in India’s approach to assistive technology. It shows that mobility devices can be designed with users, built in India and deployed through meaningful partnerships.
For Army Hospital, the wheelchairs will strengthen rehabilitation support for patients. For IIT Madras and R2D2, the project reinforces the value of research that moves from the lab to society. For Thryv Mobility, it validates the importance of building high-quality active wheelchairs for Indian users. For Fiserv, it demonstrates how CSR can support innovation with measurable human impact.
Most importantly, for wheelchair users, the initiative sends a message of dignity and possibility. Mobility is not only about movement. It is about independence, confidence and the ability to participate fully in life.
The YD One programme shows that India can create world-class assistive technology at home and use it to support people who have served the country. As the remaining wheelchairs are delivered under the 100-wheelchair initiative, the project could become a model for future collaborations in healthcare, rehabilitation and inclusive design.
FAQs
1. What is the YD One wheelchair?
The YD One is an indigenous ultra-lightweight active wheelchair developed at IIT Madras’s TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development and manufactured by Thryv Mobility. It is designed to help users self-propel and move independently.
2. How many YD One wheelchairs were delivered to Army Hospital?
IIT Madras handed over the first batch of 25 YD One wheelchairs to Army Hospital Research and Referral in Delhi Cantonment. This is part of a larger 100-wheelchair programme.
3. Who supported the YD One wheelchair initiative?
The programme is supported by Fiserv through its Corporate Social Responsibility funding. IIT Madras, Thryv Mobility and Army Hospital are key partners in the initiative.
4. Why is the YD One wheelchair important for rehabilitation?
The YD One is an active wheelchair designed for independent mobility. In rehabilitation settings, it can help patients regain confidence, movement and dignity by allowing them to participate more actively in their recovery.
5. Who manufactures the YD One wheelchair?
The YD One wheelchair is designed and manufactured by Thryv Mobility, an IIT Madras-incubated startup focused on high-quality active wheelchairs and user-centred mobility solutions.