Rehabilitation expert Rajesh Das has called for India’s assistive-technology programmes to place greater emphasis on effective service delivery—not only the distribution of devices.
Speaking as a guest at a Rotary gathering in New Delhi, Das presented his thoughts on “From Scheme to Services: Taking Assistive Devices to the Last Mile.” The session was held on 19 September 2026 at Hotel Jaypee Vasant Continental in Vasant Vihar.
Das serves as an Officer in Prosthetics and Orthotics at the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. He is also president of OPAI Delhi and has experience in rehabilitation, healthcare services and special education.
His central message was that an assistive-device scheme achieves its purpose only when the intended beneficiary receives an appropriate product, can use it safely and continues to receive support after delivery.
Moving Beyond Device Distribution
Government schemes are essential for making prostheses, orthoses, wheelchairs, hearing aids and other assistive products affordable. However, sanctioning funds or distributing equipment represents only one part of the rehabilitation process.
A person must first know that assistance is available. They may then need help obtaining disability documentation, completing an application, attending an assessment camp or travelling to a rehabilitation centre.
After eligibility is established, trained professionals must determine which device is appropriate for the person’s condition, functional requirements, environment and daily activities.
This is especially important in prosthetics and orthotics. A device that is incorrectly prescribed, poorly fitted or unsuitable for the user’s home and working environment may be uncomfortable or unsafe. In some cases, it may eventually be abandoned.
Taking assistive technology to the last mile therefore requires a connected service pathway that includes:
- Community-level identification and awareness
- Accessible registration and documentation
- Clinical and functional assessment
- Appropriate prescription by qualified professionals
- Individual fitting and necessary customisation
- User and caregiver training
- Follow-up, repairs and replacement support
The outcome should not merely be a device delivered. It should be improved mobility, independence, education, employment and community participation.
The Role of ADIP and ALIMCO
India’s Assistance to Persons with Disabilities for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances Scheme—widely known as ADIP—is one of the country’s principal mechanisms for supporting access to assistive products.
Implemented through organisations including ALIMCO, national institutes, district disability rehabilitation centres, hospitals and eligible voluntary organisations, the scheme supports a broad range of assistive products. These include artificial limbs, orthoses, wheelchairs, hearing aids and devices for people with visual, intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Eligible applicants can also use the government’s ARJUN portal to access information and apply for assistance.
Such national programmes create a vital foundation. Das’s message, however, highlights the need to translate that foundation into reliable services at district, block and village levels.
National Reach, but Uneven Delivery
The scale of the challenge can be seen in a 2026 analysis of ADIP distribution patterns. The study reported more than 1.23 million beneficiaries across India’s 36 states and union territories between 2020–21 and 2024–25.
At the same time, the researchers found considerable differences among states in beneficiary coverage, fund utilisation and outreach camps. The findings suggest that a nationally available scheme does not automatically produce uniform access at the local level.
Geography, transport, awareness, administrative capacity and the availability of trained rehabilitation professionals can all influence whether an eligible person ultimately receives an appropriate device.
Last-mile delivery must therefore be planned around local conditions. A strategy suitable for a large city may not address the needs of a remote village, where travel costs, inaccessible transport and limited follow-up facilities may prevent people from completing the rehabilitation process.
Community Organisations Can Help Bridge the Gap
Das expressed interest in building stronger collaboration with Rotary and other organisations committed to disability inclusion.
Community organisations can make an important contribution by connecting public schemes with people who may otherwise remain outside the formal service network. Their local presence can support awareness campaigns, beneficiary identification, accessible transport and communication with families.
They can also help organise assessment activities and create referral links with hospitals, rehabilitation centres and qualified prosthetics and orthotics professionals.
Clinical responsibilities must remain with appropriately trained practitioners, but community networks can help ensure that people reach those practitioners and return for follow-up when required.
The most effective partnerships would combine government funding and infrastructure with professional rehabilitation expertise, local knowledge and continued community engagement.
Measuring Impact After Handover
Assistive-technology programmes are often evaluated through the number of camps organised, devices distributed or beneficiaries registered. These indicators are useful, but they do not show whether products remain functional and useful over time.
A service-oriented system should also ask:
- Is the person using the device regularly?
- Is it comfortable and safe?
- Has it improved mobility or participation?
- Can the user obtain adjustments and repairs?
- Is a replacement available when the device wears out or the person’s needs change?
Collecting this information would help implementing agencies understand why some devices succeed while others are abandoned. It would also support better procurement, professional training and allocation of resources.
Das’s address offered a timely reminder that inclusion depends on what happens before, during and after a device is handed over. Schemes can create access, but responsive services convert that access into meaningful change.
As he summarised the journey: “From schemes to services. From services to impact. From impact to inclusion.”
- Rajesh Das on LinkedIn
- Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India
- Official ADIP Scheme Information
- ADIP ARJUN Application Portal
- Study of ADIP Distribution Patterns, 2020–2025