Kozhikode Keltron unit drives affordable healthcare with ₹8,000 hearing aid

The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (Keltron) unit at Moodadi in Kozhikode district designs and manufactures Shravan, a fully digital, programmable hearing aid at affordable price. | Photo Credit: K. Ragesh Once a modest assembly line for cathode-ray televisions, the Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (Keltron) unit at Moodadi in Kozhikode district is today on the cusp of a major high-tech makeover.​Thanks to a fresh injection of ₹1 crore earmarked in the State’s latest budget, the facility is set to be transformed into a cutting-edge electronic village. Interestingly, its tech credentials are not just a promise for the future but the facility is already quietly changing lives across India.The unit’s flagship success story is Shravan, a fully digital, programmable hearing aid designed and manufactured right on the workshop floor. “Our aim is to make this technology accessible to ordinary people while delivering the exact same quality offered by private brands,” Sreejith Sasidhara Kurup, unit head at Keltron, told The Hindu.​For thousands suffering from hearing loss, the market can be incredibly hostile. A decent digital hearing aid costs upwards of ₹25,000, a price tag that excludes those who need it most. The Shravan is priced at ₹8,000, with an annual production capacity of 30,000 units. Yet despite its accessible pricing, the hearing aid contributes nearly 2% of Keltron’s total annual profit, Mr.Sreejith added.​”The quality of Shravan is best reflected in the physical transformation we see in our users. The shift in their expressions before and after fitting the device speaks for itself,” he said.​As the only public sector entity in the State manufacturing hearing aids, Keltron also provides repair services at minimal rates, having established collection points across Kerala for customer convenience.​The establishment of an electronics village has set the stage for a major expansion that promises to reshape both the local healthcare manufacturing sector and regional employment. Overall, the expansion will see the division’s workforce triple, growing from nearly 50 to 150 employees.​Mr. Sreejith said that the division has already developed and approved numerous medical equipment prototypes, including oxygen concentrators, nebulisers, pH meters, clinical thermometers, baby-warming wraps, and tri-scooters for disabled users. Mass production of these items is currently constrained by space, as each requires a dedicated line; however, the upcoming 13-acre electronics village project will make large-scale manufacturing entirely feasible.​Koyilandy legislator K. Praveenkumar held discussions with staff regarding the scope and impact of the expansion. “To elevate Keltron to international standards, the project is considering several strategic initiatives, including the production of motorised wheelchairs and the introduction of a skill-based certificate course with guaranteed job placement,” he said.​The course aims to bridge the gap between technical education and practical industry demands, upskilling local youth while new production units create hundreds of fresh jobs, cementing its long-term presence in the healthcare market, Mr. Praveenkumar said.The writer, Arya M., is an intern with The Hindu Published - July 25, 2026 12:35 pm IST