Bangalore-based wheelchair maker Ostrich Mobility Instrument Private Limited will soon launch its 'low-cost' electric-powered wheelchair designed to provide easy mobility to the physically disabled people.

The wheelchair would be priced around Rs 45,000 and have all the basic features of a standard electric wheelchair, company Managing Director Hari Vasudevan said here.

A similar electric wheelchair made domestically cost around Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh while an imported one around Rs 1 lakh, he claimed.

The company was planning to raise a capital of Rs 20 crore from the debt market to increase its annual production capacity to 1,200 wheelchairs from the present 100 and install an additional production line for manufacturing the "low-cost" wheelchair.

It was also contemplating to launch electric-powered three/four wheel scooter and ride-on-toy cars, he said adding that 50 to 60 per cent of the components for the new wheelchair would be sourced from the overseas market.

Vasudevan said the wheelchair would also have certain indigenous products, developed using very high quality parts.

"We took it as our social responsibility and a challenge to design a cost-effective but high quality powered wheelchair," he said adding that it had been designed after getting feedback from customers, experts and doctors.

He said the company was also planning to provide employment to physically disabled persons as part of its corporate social responsibility programme.

"We are planning to provide free training to physically disabled persons. They will be absorbed in production slots where physical activity is minimal," he said.


Source: PTI