Gujarat's first Assistive Technology Mart (AT Mart) of the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO) was inaugurated in Nadiad, Kheda district, on Monday, 7 September, offering Divyang (differently-abled) persons and senior citizens one-stop access to a wide range of assistive devices. The centre is only the second ALIMCO AT Mart in the country, after the first was established in Kanpur.

What the Nadiad AT Mart Offers

The mart stocks a comprehensive range of mobility and daily-use assistive products, including wheelchairs, walking sticks, electric scooters, bicycles, smart glasses, artificial limbs, crutches, and blind sticks. Among its more advanced offerings is an AI-enabled stick capable of functioning in 12 languages, along with hearing and speech-related aids. Assistive technology specifically designed to help senior citizens move around safely and independently is also available at the centre.

The mart functions as a dedicated outlet for displaying, selling, and providing basic service support for assistive products — a format ALIMCO is scaling nationally under its 2026 framework for improving last-mile delivery of assistive technology.

Key Officials and What They Said

District Collector N.V. Upadhyay called the inauguration a 'matter of pride' for Kheda district, describing the centre as 'an important step towards making assistive technologies more accessible.' He noted that the mart would allow Divyang persons and senior citizens to access devices suited to their individual requirements from a single location.

ALIMCO Chairman Praveen Kumar described the establishment of the Nadiad centre as a 'historic step.' He provided details on the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana and Divyang Sadhan Sahay Yojana, and said ALIMCO would manufacture devices based on user expectations and needs. Kumar expressed confidence that the initiative could serve as a model at the international level.

Additional Collector Vimal Barot thanked ALIMCO for selecting Nadiad and said, 'In the coming days, AT Marts for Divyang persons could function like supermarkets, bringing a wide range of assistive products under one roof.' He also referenced the Accessible India Campaign, noting that the state government was working towards a more sensitive and inclusive approach to disability.

MoU Signed During Inauguration

A formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Maa Gayatri Ortho Care and ALIMCO during the inauguration event. Gayatri Ortho Care Chairman Chandra Gopalji said the facilities at the centre would help reach a larger number of Divyang persons. ALIMCO General Manager Ajay Chaudhary outlined the corporation's broader activities at the event, which was also attended by ALIMCO Western Zone Head Ramesh Chand and North Zone Head Shashir Tripathi.

ALIMCO's Mandate and Expansion Plans

ALIMCO is a Central government undertaking operating under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, which falls within the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Its core mandate is to make artificial limbs and assistive devices available across India at reasonable cost. The Nadiad mart is part of a wider network expansion envisaged under ALIMCO's 2026 framework, which positions AT Marts as a key mechanism for strengthening access and last-mile delivery of assistive technology nationwide.

With only two such marts operational in the entire country, the pace of expansion will be closely watched by disability-rights advocates and state governments looking to replicate the model.