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Improved Baisakhi(Crutch)
Durga Devi
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh

10th National Grassroots Innovation - 2019

 Innovator Profile

Durga Devi (22) is physically challenged house wife, who is motivated to improve her life by overcoming her limitations. She used to slip and fall often on wet floor, while doing daily household tasks. She realised that normal crutches performed well at roads or rough surfaces, but while using them on smooth floor or low friction surfaces, they were prone to slipping causing the user to also slip and fall. Furthershe found that crutches also had a tendency of slipping away from the underarm. After observing these problems, she decided to modify the commonly available baisakhi/ crutches.

She added three features to the crutches i.e. a shoulder belt which keeps the crutches in contact with body, a shock absorber, which absorbs vibrations or shocks while using the crutches and a clutch lever operated vacuum cup placed in the base/leg of the crutches. This arrangement prevents the crutches from slipping on slopes as well as on wet and smooth floor. After tying the shoulder belt it can be used as a normal crutch. While using the crutch on a wet/smooth floor, the vacuum cupsstick to the floor up on pressing.When the user has to move again, the clutch lever can be pulled, which releases air into cup, making movement possible.