Keltron Moodadi Plant Targets Medical Tech Expansion Following ₹1 Crore State Funding
The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation is scaling up its Kozhikode facility into an 'electronic village.' The unit currently produces the Shravan hearing aid, offering a digital alternative at one-third the cost of private sector competitors.
Public Sector Innovation Disrupts Hearing Aid Market
In the Moodadi region of Kozhikode, a former television assembly plant is challenging the high-cost barrier of the medical device industry. The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (Keltron) now produces Shravan, a fully digital and programmable hearing aid manufactured entirely on-site. While comparable private-sector devices retail for more than ₹25,000, Keltron provides the Shravan for ₹8,000.
Unit head Sreejith Sasidhara Kurup told The Hindu that the facility aims to offer ordinary citizens parity in technology without the prohibitive price tag. The device currently accounts for nearly 2% of the corporation’s total annual profit, supported by a production capacity of 30,000 units per year. As the only public sector manufacturer of these devices in the state, the unit also manages a network of collection points across Kerala to provide low-cost repair services.
Transitioning Toward an Electronic Village
A recent ₹1 crore budget allocation from the State government marks the beginning of a transition from general electronics to a specialized 13-acre medical technology hub. This 'electronic village' initiative aims to resolve current spatial constraints that have limited the facility to prototype development for various healthcare tools. Approved prototypes awaiting mass production include:
- Oxygen concentrators and nebulizers
- Digital clinical thermometers and pH meters
- Baby-warming wraps
- Motorized tri-scooters for individuals with disabilities
Economic Impact and Skill Development
The expansion is projected to triple the current workforce, increasing staff numbers from 50 to 150 employees. Legislator K. Praveenkumar, following consultations with plant staff, indicated that the project aims to align the facility with international manufacturing standards. Part of this strategy involves diversifying into motorized wheelchair production and launching a dedicated skill-based certificate course. This educational initiative is designed to provide local youth with industry-specific training and guaranteed job placements within the expanding production lines, bridging the current void between technical schooling and practical manufacturing requirements.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
