Aseem to make life easy for handicapped

Pune-based Scope T&M, designer and manufacturer of precision test and measuring instruments for the power sector introduced an indigenously designed electric wheel chair 'Aseem' in the city recently.

Aseem will be available in the fixed and folding wheelchairs option and is priced at Rs 20,000. Our is the first attempt in the country to manufacture the battery operated wheel chairs in the country.

"As such they cost only one- third the price of the other battery operated models available in the market," claimed Uday Karandikar, chief executive officer, Scope T&M.

Presently available only in Pune and the adjoining towns, the company plans to makes its products available nationally in the next 12-15 months as it reaches its full manufacturing capacity of 1,000 units per month.

"Our target is revenues of Rs 16 crore or sales of 8,000 units in the coming 12 months of operations," said Karindikar.

Even though 80 per cent of the market is dominated by the unorganised market, Karindikar is unfazed by the market potential.

"As per our estimates there is a market of over four crore people who are orthopedic handicaps, of this 1.25 - 1.5 crore people would consider an electronic wheel chair option over the manual option."

The company also plans to introduce the indigenous version of the popular Segway.

"We will introduce a personal battery operated transport vehicle for moving around in short distances like malls and exhibitions in the next 12 months. It will be priced at Rs 10,000," said Karanidikar adding, "We are presently in the process of freezing the design and will have the prototype ready by December."