2 IIT Delhi alumni awarded Neilom Prize 2020-21 of INR 1 lakh

The award is given annually to the best outgoing student(s) of the institute for contributing to the space of assistive technology to empower people with disabilities.  

Richa Gupta and Girish Yadav, recent graduates of the Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, have been jointly awarded the Neilom Prize for 2020-21. The award carries a cash prize of INR 1 lakh and is given annually to the best outgoing student of the institute for contributing to the space of assistive technology to empower people with disabilities.  

Richa Gupta, an assistant professor in human centred design at IIIT Delhi completed her PhD from Khosla School of Information Technology, IIT Delhi, after obtaining her BTech in mechanical engineering from IIITDM, Jabalpur, and Master of Design (MDes) from IIT Bombay. 

She also worked as project scientist in Assistech Laboratory at IIT Delhi for one year contributing to industrial design of various assistive devices in the space of accessible education and mobility.  

Gupta’s doctoral research at IIT Delhi sheds light on the idea of novel design strategies that can aid the retention of tactually acquired graphical information. Her work involved extensive experiments working closely with organisations that excel in accessibility initiatives and inclusion of blind and visually impaired in India (National Association for the Blind) and the USA (Indiana School for the Blind & Visually Impaired). 

Girish Yadav did his BTech in production and industrial engineering from IIT Delhi and recently completed his MDes degree again from IIT Delhi. Girish is a co-founder of Flexmo, an assistive technology product design and manufacturing company focusing on solutions for the elderly and people with locomotor disability.  

He was involved in successful design, development and deployment of multiple assistive technology devices, which include Flexmo Crutches, Transito Sit-Stand Device and elderly canes and walkers. 

The goal of the prize instituted by Neilom Foundation, Maryland, the US, is to inspire and empower recipients, who are Neilom fellows, to become the leaders of tomorrow and create impactful solutions to reach humanity.  

The Neilom Foundation was established by Davinder K Anand in the honour of his son Dilip “Neil” Anand. The foundation’s vision is to support activities to improve the lives of young people working at the intersection of education and technology. 

Read more: 

• Education Minister inaugurates nanotechnology, knowledge centres at IIT Guwahati 
• In a first, IITs to recruit faculty on basis of quota 
• IIT Gandhinagar invites application for paid internship, apply till Dec 5