In 2019, 60-year-old Vishnu Patel, who is specially-abled, was in the news for making an environment-friendly bike with waste material.?
In an?interview to ANI, Mr Patel said that he had built seven battery-operated bikes - all out of waste material - that would not harm the environment. "People throw away the e but I'm making bikes out of it. I want to make 3-wheelers for?divyangs?that can also carry their families simultaneously," he said.
Impressed by Patel's innovation and to encourage his dedication, Chairman of the Mahindra group has offered to invest in entrepreneurs like him.?
A Twitter user shared Vishnu Patel's story with Anand Mahindra, who is known for tweeting about and supporting innovations that catch his eye; in the past, he has offered help to many who have impressed him.?
'He's divyang ever since he was 1yr, can't hear but his skills are powerful.?He?knows tricks that can make things work alternatively. He's impressing all of us since I was 1yr', added the user.?
Responding to the tweet, Mr Mahindra called it a 'fabulous story' and said that he would reach out to Mr Patel and invest in his workshop. 'I'll reach out to him to see if I can invest in upgradations for his workshop', wrote the Chairman of the Mahindra Group.
?He added that Mr Patel's story has inspired him to set aside Rs 1 crore as an "initial fund to invest in micro entrepreneurs like him."
Anand Mahindra is known to lend a helping hand to people who come up with 'jugaad' (hacks) to make daily life easier. In 2018, he offered to make a small investment for a cobbler whose witty advertisement bowled him over. The cobbler called himself a 'shoe-doctor' and the board advertised his?shoe repair shop as a 'hospital' for 'injured' shoes, listing Dr Narseeram as the doctor on duty.
Mahindra made?his design studio in Mumbai, come up with a new kiosk for the cobbler - and they came up with the best one. The?kiosk was?delivered and set up - Mahindra made sure the shoe doctor?enjoyed his work space.?