Bhubaneswar: Jitendra Sahu’s innovation of a helmet for motorcycle riders was appreciated by President Pranab Mukherjee in 2015.
“The helmet is designed in such a way that a biker can start his vehicle only after he puts it on, thanks to the sensors installed in the helmet as well as the bike,” he explained his innovation.
His witnessing of a fatal accident of a bike with a truck in 2006 compelled him to come up with the idea for his project. He started working on the venture in 2008.
The youngster recently received an award at a function organised by a city-based NGO for his win at the National Innovation Festival in 2015 organised at Rashtrapati Bhawan where he was congratulated by the President.
Jitendra, who was preparing for Class XII examination when he started his venture, does not have any background in science. However, electronic products always caught his fancy. He, now, works as a contractual worker with NALCO in Angul.
“My family did not support me. They shouted at me for damaging home appliances. I continued to do what I loved, and it has now won me recognition,” he said.
The young lad said that former President APJ Abdul Kalam, who was himself a man of science, praised his work and even had invited him to his house. He received a cash prize of `50,000 at the contest in 2015.
He said that his model was not able to garner attention in the initial phase. “The motorcycle companies do not have this system in their makes. Our government must make it mandatory for manufacturers to install systems such as this in their products.”
“The bikers must understand that it is not only their lives that get destroyed due to accidents, but also of their families,” he averred.
His next project, which is in its
development stage, is a hearing
device for hearing-impaired.
Arindam Ganguly
Post News Network
