New Delhi, 24 June, 2026: Fiserv, a global provider of payments and financial technology solutions, has handed over the first batch of 25 indigenously developed YD One ultra-lightweight wheelchairs to Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi, under a broader 157-wheelchair CSR programme being implemented in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
The handover marks the first tranche of what is a larger initiative, further augmented by an additional 200 wheelchairs planned for the current financial year, with the remaining units scheduled for deployment in the coming months.
The YD One wheelchair was developed by IIT Madras's TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) in collaboration with Thryv Mobility, an IIT Madras-incubated startup. Co-created with wheelchair users, the ultra-lightweight device is designed for active, self-propelled mobility, enabling greater independence for users. Its integration into Army Hospital (R&R)'s rehabilitation programme is intended to support mobility-led recovery for veterans, serving personnel and their families.
A senior representative of Army Hospital (R&R) said, "Mobility is fundamental to dignity and independence. We welcome this contribution from Fiserv and IIT Madras, which will directly support our patients and their families in regaining and maintaining mobility through devices designed and built in India."
Sachin Kulkarni, President, Fiserv, said, "At Fiserv, we believe that technology and innovation have the power to create meaningful and lasting social impact when applied to real-world challenges. This partnership with IIT Madras and the Armed Forces Medical Services reflects our commitment to supporting solutions that improve quality of life, promote accessibility, and empower individuals to live with greater independence and dignity. We are proud to support an initiative that combines indigenous innovation with a shared commitment towards members of the Armed Forces community, and of the meaningful contribution to their rehabilitation and mobility journey."
Prof. Manish Anand, IIT Madras / R2D2 Center, said, "This handover represents what IIT Madras's TTK R2D2 Center was established to achieve — indigenous engineering for assistive technologies that meet the needs of Indian users at globally competitive standards. We are proud that our research has moved from the laboratory to serving those who have served the country, and grateful to Fiserv for enabling this scale of impact through their CSR support."
Justin Jesudas, CEO and Co-founder, Thryv Mobility and a wheelchair user, said: "The YD One was designed and built in India to serve Indian users without compromise on quality. To see it now reaching the men and women of the Armed Forces, through the leadership of IIT Madras and the support of Fiserv, is the deepest validation of why this product exists."
The initiative forms part of Fiserv's broader CSR strategy of creating shared value at the intersection of business, technology and community needs, with a focus on accessibility, indigenous innovation and rehabilitation outcomes.
-900x650.png)
x
