- Anand engineer’s simple, low-cost device doubles as a phone and hearing aid, offering dignity and sound to senior citizens
- The initiative has been made possible with the support of Vadilal S. Gandhi Charitable Trust, which has appealed to citizens of Kheda district to spread awareness so that more elderly people can benefit
- India has over 100 million elderly citizens, and studies suggest that nearly one in three seniors experience hearing loss
NE HEALTH BUREAU
KAPADVANJ, SEPT 29
For 72-year-old Rameshbhai from Kapadvanj, family conversations had long become faint echoes. Watching television was a strain, and visits to the doctor often ended with the same prescription: “Buy a hearing aid.” But the steep cost — often running into thousands of rupees — kept it out of reach.
That changed this month when Rameshbhai received a small, keypad mobile phone fitted with an in-built hearing aid amplifier. Suddenly, voices grew clearer, conversations felt alive again, and a smile returned to his face.
This transformation is the result of a unique social innovation by Anand-based Pareshbhai, carried out under the Shri Vadilal S. Gandhi Charitable Trust in Kapadvanj.
A phone that hears for you
The device looks like an ordinary mobile phone. But behind its keypad lies a special amplifier setting that allows it to function as both a hearing aid and a phone. It needs no extra batteries or power packs — just the same charging as a regular handset.
Before handing over the device, Pareshbhai’s team conducts an audiogram (hearing test) for each user and customizes the volume to match their level of hearing loss. The result: a personalized, affordable solution that is particularly effective for age-related deafness.
Affordable by Design
Driven purely by a spirit of service, Pareshbhai has priced the device at:
- ₹250 for BPL (Below Poverty Line) card holders
- ₹900 for APL (Above Poverty Line) card holders
The package also includes hearing tests and audiometric assessment.
“Our aim was never to build a business, but to restore sound and dignity to those who lose it in their later years,” says Pareshbhai, the mind behind the innovation. “By keeping costs low, we want every senior citizen, regardless of income, to afford this small but life-changing device.”
A community effort
The initiative has been made possible with the support of Vadilal S. Gandhi Charitable Trust, which has appealed to citizens of Kheda district to spread awareness so that more elderly people can benefit.
“For many seniors, hearing loss isolates them from society. This project is not just about technology — it’s about reconnecting lives,” said Hetalben Trivedi, a representative of the Trust.
A sound future
India has over 100 million elderly citizens, and studies suggest that nearly one in three seniors experience hearing loss. Yet, access to hearing aids remains limited due to cost and awareness barriers.
Innovations like this mobile-cum-hearing aid may not solve the problem entirely, but they point to a future where affordable health technology bridges gaps in elderly care.
For Rameshbhai and countless others like him, it is more than a device — it is the gift of sound, of belonging, and of laughter returning to family conversations.
For details, citizens may contact: Hetalben Trivedi – +91 884 945 1013 &Vadilal S. Gandhi Charitable Trust, Kapadvanj, District Kheda
