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They Cannot Walk, But They Drive
And now, beneficiaries get together to thank automobile engineer Ferdinand Rodricks for modifying cars to suit their needs ………….Smita Nair In 1988, when a batch of 20 disabled-friendly cars were sourced by Maruti Suzuki, Geeta Castelino, a consultant with the fashion industry, was one of the beneficiaries. Hit by polio at a young age, getting behind the wheels put her in charge of her life in more ways than one.
The car manufacturer had separate codes for various categories of the differently abled: TRC (fully hand operated) TRD (for those with one limb) TRE (for those who have lost both hands) TRA (for those who have lost one each of their hands and legs). With 20 cars having been sourced, that was the last of any concerted effort from the private sector or government to cater to sections of the population who are disabled but still have the urge to drive.
On Sunday, as many of Geeta’s friends assembled in a service workshop in Bhoiwada, they made it a point to thank Ferdinand Rodricks, or Ferdi as he is fondly known, who has produced over 600 vehicles for disabled people across the country with mobility aids. An automobile engineer, Rodricks’ private initiative Ferro Equip has for several years worked on modifying and arranging manual adjustments in cars chosen by the disabled.
“In India, we have a back-up like Ferdi who helps disabled to own a car and drive one,” says Dr Rajam, who drives a car specially designed by Rodricks. Ashok Nikam, a development officer with an insurance company, can’t thank Rodricks enough for the long drives — some as far as Goa — for which his Fiat had to be modified after the loss of his left hand.
As cars of different makes and brands enter the workshed, there is an air of optimism as one watches disabled people driving in and parking cars modified by Rodricks, for servicing. The programme soon becomes a platform to discuss issues that the disabled face — a gentleman recalls how during his RTO test, the inspector did not want to sit with him in the vehicle, fearing an accident. Smita Bhosle (28), a senior executive administrator in a private firm, talks of her struggle to get a driving licence from authorities.
Vasant Contractor (58), who survived polio, has taught over 50 students to drive cars. He says disabled-friendly vehicles are a big market abroad, after Japan started making such cars for Second World War soldiers. Contractor himself drives a 1980 Isuzu, a Japanese make. He is quick to add, “In India we only have some companies offering automatic transmission which is not always helpful. No private brand till date has come up with manual adjustment based car for the disabled. It is this huge segment where Ferdi comes into the picture where disabled from across the country have benefited from him.”
In India, Rodricks explains, companies have often shied away from touching the segment as it does not offer large profit margins. At the eighth Auto Expo in New Delhi in 2006, Maruti had tried to “filter interest” by unveiling a Maruti Solio for the disabled friendly—which did not see any follow up. The Zen Easy Drive in 2001 had been launched with automatic transmission and the option of nine disabled-friendly combinations. It too could not succeed with the company citing poor demand.
Further, auto transmission costs at least a lakh more than manual transmission cars, which many can’t afford.
While Rodricks is professionally with a private automobile company, he sees Ferro Equip as a space where people with physical disabilities and an urge to drive can approach him, with their preferred dream car, and between various sittings , he can fulfill their dream by making the personalised adjustments. His initiative has also in the last few years battled several archaic transport department rules, making it easier for the disabled to go through the legal procedures in getting a driving licence and registration for a disabled car.
Rodricks, whose resume boasts cars designed for Professor Stephen Hawking during his India visit, even has a client who lost both his limbs and now drives a Scorpio.
As the Nano makes an appearance in Mumbai on Monday, Rodricks’ answer to a question on whether the Nano can be modified is, as usual, “Why not?”
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