Technology

Foot Operated Scooty

Your conviction can indeed do wonders. The daughter of a disabled father, Malvika, in her determination to help her father has come up with an innovation. Malvika always wanted to help her father, who had lost his legs, to lead a normal life. She really wanted that he be able to drive. While she could not come up with something to help her father, she did come up with an innovative device, which can help people, who have lost their arms, partly or fully, to drive a scooter.

Malvika, a student of XIth standard at St Mary Convent School has modified a scooty for this purpose. A footboard has been attached to the scooty, housing controls for accelerator and break. A horizontal bar with cups at both ends works as the handle and can be controlled with the knees. Her invention has earned her prizes and accolades from the international community. This includes a cash prize of Rs 122 crores and a scholarship worth $ 50,000 towards her higher studies. Even IIT Kanpur was all praises for the device.

Malvika's father is a mechanical engineer who lost his legs in a road accident in the 90's.

Ramendra Sanger, the first person to use the scooty, was all in tears when he could see himself drive again after having lost his arms.

Ways to go Malvika!

Source: Bitiya ka kamala, 12 crore ka jeeta inaam. Dainik Bhaskar, Faridabad, 3 July 2005.