CHENNAI, : Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has launched
the National Center for Assistive Health Technologies, IIT Madras (NCAHT-IITM), an initiative of
the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), to boost Research and Development in
Assistive Technologies.
(Assistive technologies refer to rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and the elderly).
The launch event was held today (17th June 2023) at IIT Madras Research Park in the
presence of Chief Guest Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary to Government of India, Department of Health
Research, and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Prof. V. Kamakoti,
Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President, IIT Madras Research Park, and IIT
Madras Incubation Cell, and Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan, Head, TTK Center for Rehabilitation
Research and Device Development (R2D2), IIT Madras, among other dignitaries
The TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) is implementing
this initiative at IIT Madras. NCAHT-IITM will be a showcase centre that enables R&D in
Assistive Technologies. It envisages user empowerment by showing the possibilities through
technology, minimising unconscious bias in the minds of engineers/Assistive Technology
developers, policymakers, general public and paving the way for better AT solutions and
policies.
Addressing the inaugural event, Chief Guest Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary to Government of
India, Department of Health Research, and Director General, Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR), said, “The National Centre for Assistive Health Technology is dedicated to
advancing research, development, and innovation in assistive technologies. It holds an
immense potential to transform the lives of individuals with functional impairments bridging the
gap between users, developers, and policymakers. It will foster an ecosystem for promotion of
innovation, inclusivity, and accessibility.”
Further, Dr. Rajiv Bahl added, “The NCAHT-IITM will become a platform for user-developer
interactions, facilitating the exchange of ideas, collaborations, and design of new assistive
technologies. Together, let us continue pushing the boundaries of healthcare innovation for
better Assistive Technologies.”
Sharing his view on NCAHT-IITM, Dr. Ravinder Singh, Senior Scientist and Program
Officer for Disability, Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology at ICMR headquarters,
said, “This is a centre where researchers, academicians, and innovators could co-create the
ATs. NCAHT will have linkages with manufacturing and provisioning through different platforms

like health, social justice, insurance, and civil society. The NCAHT-IITM is also designed to
support other South-East Asian countries through teaching, trainings and evidence generation.”
Co-developed with IIT Madras Research Park’s ‘10X Assistive Technology Program,’
NCAHT-IITM is designed to foster increased social inclusion and serves as an immersive
experience centre, underscoring the transformative power of assistive devices for users,
policymakers, rehabilitation professionals, and innovators.
NCAHT-IITM will demonstrate the real-life challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and
the elderly through various experience zones. Additionally, NCAHT-IITM features an Innovation
Hub for User-centric Design, a Wheelchair Skills Lab, an Open Innovation Portal, a Policy
Research Desk, and a Dissemination Center, all aimed at cultivating an assistive technology
ecosystem that complements the research, design, and development efforts at R2D2.
Presiding over the Event, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras is
committed to inclusive education, addressing both academic and social needs of people with
physical challenges. The experiential nature of this centre will help take these efforts to the next
level in terms of mobility and accessibility to resources.”
The NCAHT-IITM will act as a platform for user-developer and user-policymaker interactions
and, at the same time, serve as a training resource for AT and rehab professionals and NGOs.
NCAHT-IITM primarily focuses on mobility impairments while the NCAHTs at IIT Delhi, AIIMS
Delhi, and NISH Trivandrum will focus on other disabilities.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, President, IIT Madras Research
Park, and IIT Madras Incubation Cell, said, “This centre aligns with the IIT Madras Research
Park’s 10X Assistive Technology Program to help startups develop devices, have users
experience them and give feedback to improve the devices, and finally commercialize the
technologies.”
During the event, a new program developed in partnership with The Ganga Foundation was
launched for wheelchair users the world over—a set of self-training video modules for
wheelchair users to empower them to train/upskill themselves in wheelchair use and enhance
their independence. These modules – categorized into beginner, intermediate and advanced –
cover a range of topics, from wheelchair selection to negotiating stairs and difficult terrains.
Regardless of location, users can access these modules at their convenience and learn at their
own pace. This collaboration combines technology and expertise to create inclusive solutions
and improve the lives of wheelchair users, in addition to complementing the physical wheelchair
skills program at NCAHT-IITM.
Prof. Sujatha Srinivasan, Head, R2D2-IIT Madras, and NCAHT-IITM, said, “NCAHT-IITM will
help strengthen the assistive technology ecosystem we have created at R2D2. Together, we
aim to change the assistive technology landscape in India and beyond. Through the NCAHT
experience zones, we want to show that disability can be imposed by the environment, but the
right assistive technologies and training can help us function effectively and live life to the
fullest. We are fortunate that several partners have come on board already to support and
realise the center’s vision.”
The TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT Madras
is involved in research related to human movement and the design and development of
rehabilitation and assistive devices for people with movement impairments. R2D2 engineers
affordable products for rehabilitation needs in India and beyond, work with clinical specialists,

NGOs, and hospitals, among others, to field-test the designs, and fosters a research
environment to evaluate assistive device designs from biomechanical and functional
standpoints.

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