Anand Mahindra has a 'thoughtful solution' to modernise manual hand carts: Here's what it is

Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra Group, who often shares his thoughts on social media, has urged students from technical institutes and the online community to come up with ideas to motorize hand carts. Mahindra revealed tha this initiative was prompted by a suggestion from his retired colleague, Commodore Mike Bhada, highlighting the arduous work done by hand cart operators.

Anand Mahindra Inspired By Retired Colleague's Solution

In a social media post on X (Twitter), Mahindra shared that Commodore Bhada had observed the effort put in by hand cart operators during his daily commute in central Mumbai. He wrote, "A retired colleague, Commodore Mike Bhada, sent me a thoughtful suggestion after seeing these hardworking hand cart operators while on his daily commute through central Mumbai."

Bhada proposed retrofitting the carts with an inexpensive battery-operated motor, which would allow operators to steer rather than push.


Also Read: Vijay Mallya condolles 'fordimable competitor' Anita Goyal's death, remembers Jet Airways founder's wife as a 'lovely human being'

“I was wondering if there was some way of easing this burden by retrofitting an inexpensive battery-operated motor, just enough to give traction to the wheels. The hand-cart operator would then just have to steer/guide it and not push/pull the cart. I fully appreciate the ramifications of this exercise from the technical as well as the operational & institutional aspects but imagine the relief we will render to this segment of our labor force,” Bhada noted according to the billionaire.


Mahindra expressed his agreement with Bhada's suggestion, pointing out that while India has made significant technological advancements, such as sending missions to the moon and developing advanced electric vehicles, manual carts still navigate the narrow alleys of bustling cities.

He commended Bhada’s compassionate outlook and encouraged students to develop a compact and affordable device to assist these workers.

"It is ironic that even as we sent crafts to the moon & develop sophisticated EVs for our expressways, that these manual carts are still necessary to negotiate the narrow alleys & by-lanes of our teeming cities. Mike, compliments on your empathy," Mahindra wrote.

Mahindra Calls For Collaborative Efforts

Mahindra suggested that students from technical institutes could develop a compact, affordable device to ease the burden on hand cart operators. He also mentioned that these innovations could be distributed through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Also Read:Sundar Pichai and '3 Idiots': Google CEO references Aamir Khan's famous motor scene during interview. But why?

The entrepreneur concluded his message by inviting additional ideas from the community, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts to improve the lives of hand cart operators.

This call to action by Mahindra not only highlights the need for innovative solutions but also encourages young minds and businesses to contribute to social welfare through practical and impactful inventions.