#Good News| A Magic Crutch, The Farmer-Inventor and A Transgender Beauty Queen

Enabling steps

Srinivas Adepu claims that his invention, a crutch, is the ‘world's first’ self-standing one. This 25-year old IIT-Delhi alumnus, came up with this idea after a friend injured his ankle while playing volleyball, sometime in 2015. The crutch doesn’t slip on any surface, one doesn’t have to hop as much as in a normal crutch and it is not that costly either. Srinivas and his friends, Arvind S.A. and Girish Yadav, started working on a design based on anthropometric data of people with disabilities. With the help of combined grants from IIT Delhi, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and Oasis—a startup, they developed this crutch they call ‘Flexmo’. Since the design is modelled after the human foot, the heel-toe combination provides extra support and can traverse any terrain without difficulty, unlike the conventional rubber-tip crutches. The design also prevents other issues like carpal tunnel syndrome. Priced at Rs 2999, the product was formally launched on 09 August, following which, it was made available on e-commerce websites. More information about these crutches can be found on https://www.flexmotiv.com/.

Source: The New Indian Express and Better India

Farmer-Inventor

Mahesh Karmali, a farmer from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand has come up with a ‘jugaad’ that is likely to change the lives in his village and beyond. Karmali, a poor farmer who doesn’t own cattle to till his land, developed a low-cost tractor-like machine from just scooter scraps. Karmali does not have a technical degree except for some practical experience of working as a mechanic for a while. Karmali’s wife, who could not have been more proud of her husband, claims that he made it in three days only. They say that the whole village is in awe of this invention and Karmali has even been requested by villagers of Uncha Ghana, to make a similar machine for them. In fact, it was one of his neighbours, Kapil Dev Chaudhary, who had posted a photo of his invention on Facebook. Now that’s a life-changing jugaad!

Source: India Today

The Naaz of India

India’s transgender beauty, Naaz Joshi was crowned Miss World Diversity 2019 on August 3 in Port Louis, Mauritius. What makes her feat even more special is the fact that this is her third consecutive win on this International platform. Competing with 14 international contenders, she dressed up in a blue lehenga-choli to portray herself as Hindu Goddess, Shakti. Born as Aizya Naaz Joshi in Delhi, she says that while growing up, she had to face a lot of stigma and resistance from society. She is an active proponent of transgender rights in India.

Source: Femina and News18

Dancing her way to a National Record

A lot of people would say that it’s very difficult for a person with Down Syndrome to overcome challenges, let alone have a national record to their name. Proving all those people wrong, 15-year old Down Syndrome patient, Divya Sankar, who is a student of SNHSS High School Pullamkulam, North Paravoor, Kochi, has made her name into the India Book of Records for performing Bharatnatyam recital for more than two hours at Paravur Dr Ambedkar Park. Her exuberant brother who motivated her parents to treat her like any other child said that, "The certificate awarded by the India Book of Records reads, ‘Girl with Down syndrome performing Bharatanatyam’."On the other hand, our star, Divya says,"Dancing is my passion and I want to keep learning it. I love everything about it. It gives me great joy. I also love songs and sing sometimes." Cheers to her spirit!

Source: The New Indian Express