An Innovative Waste Management Startup - Swaaha

In year 2016, when Jwalant Shah and Rohit Agarwal laid the foundation of "Swaaha" , a Resource Management company and an innovative startup in the field of waste management, they themselves were not aware of the progress of this startup which has now become one of the leading startups of the country in the field of solid waste management. Later on in 2017 ,Sameer Sharma also joined the team as a mentor. Swaaha has developed a unique technique of waste management in which they are able to convert waste into compost at the site only and primary transportation of waste material is not needed for its processing. Recently Swaaha is in news as  it is leading Amarnath Yatra in association with Jammu and Kashmir Government to make it completely eco friendly. 

The Origin

Rohit Agarwal and Jwalant Shah  have completed their mechanical engineering  from IIT Indore. These former alumni of IIT Indore thought of initiating a startup on solid waste management and sustainability in year 2016 which was one of it's kind idea in the country at that time. It gains it's name from initials Swacch (clean) and Hara (green). The startup has been incubated from IIT Indore and startup India. Swaaha was initially started with a capital of rupees 50000 only and now it has a valuation of 75 crores. The municipal corporation Indore has also given special support and appreciation to this innovative startup.

The Technology Behind

Rohit and Jwalant along with their teacher Sameer Sharma have developed a unique technique of solid waste management in which the waste is processed at the same site from which it is collected and then it is carried to composting site of Swaaha after 10 to 12 days. They have developed a mobile van for waste processing when for this purpose also. One such mobile organic waste processing unit named "Havankund" is also launched at IIT Indore campus. This mobile van has a capacity to process 400 kg of waste in 1 hour and it has been specially designed to modify complete wet waste into compost. They have also presented a complete plan for making IIT Indore a total zero waste campus.

Achievements

Swaaha started it's journey by processing solid waste of shops located in Chappan Dukan area of Indore. Initially they charged 70 paisa to 2.5 rupees for composting per kg of solid waste. Initially there was only one mobile van however they are now serving 7 big hotels ,4 education centres and 15 townships in Indore with 4 mobile vans. Due to their innovative approach in the field of waste management, sustainable practices, ethical business practices and social impact by waste management an American company has invited Swaaha to demonstrate their solid waste management model and has signed an MOU with them whose pilot project has been already started. They have also been awarded as best smart city project in 2020.

From Indore to Amarnath

With a team of more than 350 volunteers and Safai Mitras, Swaaha is going to prevent waste from polluting the Himalayan region by making Amarnath Yatra completely eco friendly. 200 Kashmiri youth are also a part of this noble initiative. In Association with Indore city social media group, this innovative enterprise has started a unique Langar in Amarnath Yatra which will be totally powered by solar energy and biogas. Moreover a complete plan for composting food and solid waste during Amarnath Yatra is also proposed. For this purpose they have 13 campsites throughout the Yatra up to cave. 

An Exciting Innovation

Swaaha has yet another gem in their achievements as they have developed a machine that works without electricity at higher altitudes which can be carried to the mountains with the help of mules and horses. This wonderful machine for waste management needs very less maintenance and can be assembled quickly. To ensure proper waste management, Swaaha has also developed a software that provides real time data of any litter or waste throughout the journey with the help of a web app.

This innovative journey is a remarkable example of out of box thinking, innovative approach and right attitude towards solving a problem infront of today's youth. A great applause to them!

 The Iceman of India - Chewang Norphel

Popularly known as Ice man of India, Chewang Norphel is well known for designing artificial glaciers in the arid regions of Ladakh to provide a permanent solution of water shortage among farmers of Ladakh region. Chewang is just another name for a man with steely intentions! Unlike most middle class people, Chewang Norphel was not interested to just make a living out of his job, but wanted to be a part of solution of a crucial problem affecting his local community. 

The Biography

Chewang Norphel was born in a middle class family in Ladakh. After completing his studies, he got his first posting as a civil engineer in rural department of Jammu and Kashmir in Ladakh. This was a turning point in his life as he himself was unaware of what life was going to offer to him.

His first visit to Ladakh

Ladakh is also called the frozen desert of India with a large arid patch of land,  freezing temperatures and scanty rainfall round the year. In spite of this, the land is very rich in cultural diversity. The only source of water for local people are frozen glaciers at high altitude that melt in summers and flow down to provide seasonal water supply to the villagers. About 80% of residents of Ladakh are farmers by profession and much dependent on this seasonal water supply for crop cultivation. 

The most appropriate season for crop cultivation in Ladakh is spring and summer which is around April to June however glaciers are still frozen and that time. They start melting completely in the month of June however the farmers need this water in the month of April which is the starting time of sowing seeds.

The seeding of an idea

Chewang after observing this problem, started reflecting over it to find a solution. The major concern was to get a perennial water supply in spring season for the farmers. It was practically impossible to pump the water from the rivers flowing down to the hilly terrains up, when there was potential power shortage in that region. Here sparked a life changing idea! 

It is a common practice in Ladakh to keep the water taps a little open in winter to avoid bursting of pipes near freezing points. Chewang once observed a strange phenomena in his house that the water coming out from the tap was forming a sheet of ice when flown over the soil below the trees however at other places it was flowing quite freely. His engineer mind immediately tickled that the water started freezing once it was slowed down by the soil under the shade of trees.

The Rise of a Solution

Chewang realized that the water wasting from melting glaciers and flowing down to the rivers in the month of June can be utilized for farming if stored at low altitudes in canals, catchment areas and reservoirs by constructing artificial glaciers! What a genius idea! This can provide the farmers- the much needed supply of water in the month of April which is the beginning stage of crop cycle.

After a lot of trials, he finally created his first Artificial Glacier at a height of 13000 feet as the water starts melting at lower altitudes in the month of April which can provide much needed water supply to the farmers. 

Execution of the idea

Chewang implemented his ingenious idea by channelizing streams of water melting from higher altitudes towards natural catchment areas and reservoirs at lower altitudes by passing it through shadowy areas of mountains. The water was further slowed down by constructing artificial walls and placing narrow iron pipes in its path of flow to dissipate the heat of flowing water naturally and speedily. The final result was an amazing artificial glacier at the other side. This water was further channelized in the field to the farmers through multiple streams in the villages below.

A Wave of positivity in Agriculture

Initially when Chewang pitched this idea, he was mocked and termed as crazy. He built his first artificial glacier at a nominal cost of rupees 90000 only. So far Chewang has created 17 artificial glaciers throughout Ladakh benefiting thousands of farmers by the proper supply of water for crop cultivation. This change has been witnessed in the form of increased agricultural production ,boosting of average income of farmers of the region and decrease in migration of local people in cities in the search of green pastures.

Awarding Padma Shri

In the Year 2015, Chewang was awarded 'Padma Shri', one of the highest civilian awards in India, for his noble efforts to bring about a major change in the lives of the people of Ladakh. Chewang Norphel is a live example of a changemaker who revolutionized the lives of common man by his firm determination ,self confidence and never ending motivation.

 Deepthi Nathala - the innovator behind Hecoll fabric

Is it possible that a single cloth can block 99% UV rays, inhibit viruses and bacteria and can filter 99% particulate matter contained in pollution? Yes ,it is possible and that also in a single innovation ! The innovation has been done by Deepti Nathala, an alumni of IIT Madras and an entrepreneur of Hyderabad based startup called Hecoll means "healthy Cover for All. " 

The birth of Hecoll

When this former IITian returned to her hometown in Hyderabad  in 2018, after working for a decade in about 23 countries she noticed that her body was unable to adjust with the environment of India. She was often suffering from mild headaches and skin irritations while driving in the city. With a little research, she was able to discover that the scarves and dupattas used by women during travelling were incapable of fighting with the pollution and she realized an urgent need for a fabric which can protect people from excess dust ,pollution and germs. She started working on such fabric.

Applying Nanotechnology 

Deepthi started testing fabrics available in the market. She also found during these tests that N 95 masks, sunscreen and hand sanitizers were generating a lot of plastic waste in the environment including biomedical Waste. After extensive research of many months, she was able to come up with a fabric called Hecoll. She took eco friendly cotton at its base with a blend of 'bodyguard molecules' in the cavities between cotton molecules so that it can filter particulate matter and kill viruses and bacteria coming in contact from the environment.

The experienced nanotechnologist filled the cavities in the fabric by 'bodyguard molecules' which can have three forms

1. Non polar molecules having germ killing abilities and UV Ray absorption capacity extracted from plant based products like neem and turmeric. 

2. Molecules pulled out from metal components like nano Copper and nano silver. 

3. Even certain chemical compositions clubbed with nanotechnology can be used for filling the cavities. 

Start of Production

After failing in her research for 80 times, she finally come up with the launching of Dibbu Solutions in 2019. She was ultimately able to design a fabric capable of fighting H1N1 virus, E coli bacteria and filtering Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide gases. It can also block 95% air pollutants and 99% UV rays. 

She first sold out her product in the local market however the Biotechnology department of Central Government told her to make masks of this fabric during pandemic. Gradually she got orders from Indian Railways, United Nations ,Tourism and mining department of government. DRDO has instructed Deepthi to fabricate clothes for those soldiers who are posted at high altitudes like Kargil and are prone to skin diseases due to UV rays.

Certifications

She has got certifications from agencies like Bombay Textile Research Association (BRTA),National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL),Nelson labs and Bureau Veritas and South India textile Research Association(SITRA). " Our products can last up to 6000 washes. The other products available so far in the world can survive up to 60 to 100 washes only. "she says.

The company profile

Deepthi, at present is fabricating anti-virus face masks, baby wraps for newborn babies, bed sheets, fanny bags, hats, caps and items for preventing hospital infections like doctor coats, surgical gowns etc. Her products are available on Amazon and Flipkart also. She also showcased her work in various state government expos and tried pitching in Dubai Expo also. 

Deepthi is dedicated to employ housewives, transgenders and home maids in her company. This decision came out due to discrimination seen for them while working in various companies in her career. At present she own a staff of about 140 employees across 3 states. She is  presently incubated by Telangana government but also looking for venture capitalists for funding. 

Challenges in life

Deepthi has been facing challenges in her life right from childhood when she lost her mother at the tender age of 8 years. Apart from this, when she launched her enterprise, a lot of criticism was faced   from her relatives and society in the form of unsolicited comments as she being a lady, was trying to set up her business. She got no financial help from anybody. She also patented her product at her own expense.

Whatever may be the challenges, innovator like Deepthi is a remarkable example for all those striving in life with no or little hope.

 Swami Hitanand - A Ray of Hope in Aboojhmaad

Swami Hitanand  is a monk in Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Narayanpur which is one of the branches of Ramakrishna Math in the state of Chhattisgarh. With a motto to educate the children of this inaccessible and most under rated area of Chhattisgarh, he is continuing selflessly from a decade without taking rest. 

Ramakrishna Mission Ashram ,Narayanpur was established by Swami Atmanand on 2nd August 1985 to serve the tribal people of that area particularly known as Aboojhmarians. For centuries these tribals have faced utter negligence and oppression from mainstream society and needed much attention.

This area is one of the most remote and inaccessible areas of the country where administration and police is even unable to reach.  They have access to this area up to a few kilometres only because of dense forests, hills, adivasis and Maoists movement which makes it entirely unapproachable. 

Swamiji - A ray of hope

In 2011, even before the arrival of Government and administration, Swami Hitanand and his companions approached this area namely , two very sensitive villages- Harbel and Dhobe of Jatloor panchayat. Swamiji first reached Jatloor by jeep and then Harbel after walking a distance of 12 km on foot as there was no road except small footway among the dense forest. He was dedicated to pick children to take them to Ashram for providing education.

A Courageous Beginning

When Swami ji reached Harbel in his saffron clothes, villagers just got inside their huts by seeing a monk in the village. It was quite obvious because of Naxalite movement in that area. After a while, an old lady came out and offered drinking water to him. She spoke to Swami Hitanand in local dialect called Madiya- " I just came to your Narayanpur Ashram along with some villagers of Jatloor. It is too good. Please take both of my children along with you and make them study." It was a wonderful encouraging moment for Swamiji and he decided to move to Dhobe immediately. 

Dhobe  is situated at a distance of 12 km from Harbel in dense forest. When Swamiji approached the villagers in Dhobe, at first one villager agreed to send his child with Swamiji after mutual talk. Seeing this, some other villagers also gave their consent to send their children to Narayanpur Ashram.

A Kick Start

Swamiji gave a kick start to his mission with 5 children at the age of 34. At present he is 46 years old. In those 12 years, he has collected about 2500 children from 11 villages of Aboojhmaad and admitted them in Narayanpur Ashram where they get quality education and fulfill their dreams. Swamiji follow a unique method of identification of children and their parents as majority of them are illiterate and don't know Hindi even.

Swamiji first take a photograph of the child with his or her parents along with a slate in which child name is written along with their parents and village name. This procedure is followed so has to keep their record. In past 35 years, thousands of children from those areas have got educated and nurtured and bagged top positions in various exams. The Ashram offers a highly disciplined and world class environment to them for their all round development. 

The Mission continues

Swamiji is still continuing his mission with all his might and with the same zeal and even planning to visit more remote villages beyond Harbel and Dhobe. He visit those inaccessible areas where there is absolutely no human entry beyond CRPF camp. Many a times, the villagers itself support and show him the way for a particular destination.

In all, Swami Hitanand is a ray of hope for all the poor children in the densely forested and remote areas of Aboojhmaad .No reward can ever describe his greatness nor can assess his selfless service towards humanity. Such persons are the change makers of the society and the nation.

 Green Man of India - Rohit Mehra

Popularly known as Green man of India - Rohit Mehra , an IRS officer from Punjab is well known for his love for forests especially urban forests. Apart from his profession he is an author, motivational speaker and blogger. His mission and passion both is to protect and conserve the environment by developing urban forests and make earth more greener place to live in. 

Flashback

Rohit, like other students was an average student in his student life. He failed in his grade 12 board exams however he continued with dedication and passed the exams. Later on he was able to pass Civil Services exam in 2004 and get commissioned as an IRS officer. 

His love for trees was not from childhood. He even refused to plant a tree when his grandfather urged him to do so however a U turn came in his life when his son told him that they had a day off in school due to pollution in 2016. It shattered his mind and provoked him to do something. He decided to devote a small part of his life for environment and sustainability.

A Hike to Greenery

Rohit started his campaign for greenery by first studying numerous books on Indian culture and from their he came across " Vriksh Ayurved. " He also turned up to an ancient Japanese art called Miyawaki technique of planting trees. After deep Research and studies he was hit upon the idea of creating an urban forest. So far Rohit has created 250 microforests in the urban areas especially in Ludhiana and Amritsar with a focus to plant only native species of plants. " In life you always have two choices either to react to any situation or to take action to change it. "Mehra says.

Vertical Gardens - the first project

The first step towards his oath for setting up greenery was  developing Vertical Gardens in the City. He asked for plastic bottles to the school students and scrap dealers. He created such vertical Gardens at Golden Temple Amritsar, railway and police stations, judicial campuses, his own office and even some IITs. The vertical garden at Income Tax Department Ludhiana has been given place in Limca Book of World Records which used around 17000 plastic bottles. 

Apart from Punjab, Rohit has developed around 550 vertical Gardens across Delhi , Mumbai, Jammu ,Vadodara, Surat, Kolkata ,Gurugram and Odisha, just free of cost.

Developing Urban Forest

Mehra along with his team of green volunteers or Eco Warriors has converted several dump yards and vacant places into Mini forests. Many Mini forests were created over industrial land beside canals and panchayat lands. Many trees in these forests have grown to a height of 15 to 17 feet and it is even difficult to pass through them. Following Vriksh Ayurved, Mehra planted minimum of 25 to 30 native varieties of trees like Amla , Neem and Kikar which complement each other by sharing nutrients among themselves. He uses organic substances like leaves, cowdung etc for developing forest.

The tree Hospital and Mobile tree ATM

One more unique endeavour  in this series of environment protection is a Tree Hospital set up by the officer at Amritsar. With the help of some botanists ,Ayurvedacharyas and environmentalists, a tree ambulance is also placed there." Whenever a plant is dying, people contact us for suggesting remedies. In many cases we even sent ambulance to the home to protect the plant" says Mehra. On an average, Mehra gets 25 to 30 calls everyday for treating plants. Also they have a mobile tree ATM from where they distribute two free plants to the people who promise to take care of them.

The seed balls

Mehra has introduced one more unique concept - the seeds enveloped in clay and enriched with proper nutrition for their growth called seed balls. Mehra and his team throw these seed balls in free spaces wherever available so that they can sprout and develope as a plant. He distributed these seed balls in langars, toll plazas and rath yatras also. 

Achievements

Although list of his accomplishments is huge, still a few to be mentioned here. Mehra has written three books on environment- " how to make urban forests", "31 green habits to save the planet" and " Gift lungs to future Generation". Mehra has been called up in IITs, IIMs and Ayush department of Government of India for sharing his valuable knowledge. National Green Tribunal in collaboration with Mehra is aiming to prepare 300 urban forests in the near future. 

Salute to the efforts of Green Man of India - an Income tax Officer by profession but an environmentalist by heart who considers developing green patches as his duty to the nation and the society. 

 Benital - India's first Astro Village

Benital - one of it's kind village in Uttarakhand is marking its presence in the field of Astro tourism very rapidly. In the past, in December 2021 an Astro Park was set up in Benital which lies in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand , situated at a height of 2500 m or 8500 feet for a variety of activities. 

As per officials, due to minimal human intervention, Benital offers a unique view of night sky which is an ideal site for watching  celestial bodies. From here the idea of Astro tourism also popped up which is one of its kind. 

The paradise of nature

In fact this place can be a Paradise for nature lovers. Amidst heart taking natural beauty and negligible pollution, visitors are engaged here in a variety of activities like star gazing, identifying planets constellation finding ,sky observation and learning astrophotography.

As per one of the visitor" I was feeling as if we are being covered with the blanket of stars and moon here. We are feeling as if we are revitalized by coming here. We are unable to observe such a clear sky in the city due to pollution. I wish that it should we night forever and no day break should be there. It's simply mesmerizing. "

A new trend in Tourism

Paul Savio, Co founder and Chief executive officer of the company Starscapes, finds this place to be ideal for this event. With increasing pollution, people are continuously searching for more peaceful and new places which can provide them off beat experience and Benital can prove to be a milestone in the field of Astro tourism which is an entirely new concept. The Astro party was organized by the Chamoli district administration in collaboration with Gurgaon based company Starscapes experiences pvt Ltd. 

The live Experience

The visitors spent two nights observing stars, planets and constellations, then they were taken to a nearby village where they were explained the construction and launching of a rocket. It was a great experience to see Jupiter in the night sky as per observers. For visitors help, there were 8 experts available throughout the night on the spot. There was no entry fee for the event. In all it was an enriching and wonderful experience. Apart from Star hunting and night sky gazing events like tracking, bird watching and cycling we also arranged to give a wholesome experience to the visitors. 

No doubt this new trend is going to stay for long and it will soon fetch the hearts of people. Benital is going to become the next travel destination surely and will mark it's presence as India's first Astro village.

Kisaan school of Chattisgarh

 Chhattisgarh's First Kisaan School

Baheradih village of Janjgir Champa district of Chhattisgarh has made its identity all over the country and it doesn't needs introduction anymore. Chhattisgarh first Kisan school is being opened here and very soon it has become a model for farmers across the country. The school is excelling not only in farming and farmer's training but also generating employment opportunities for the villagers.

The Man Behind

On 23 December, 2021, a progressive former named Deendayal Yadav of Baheradih village of baloda block of Janjgir Champa district lead the foundation of first Kisan school in Chhattisgarh on the occasion of Kisan Divas. Deendayal Yadav has been experimenting on vegetables since 2010-11 and those efforts became fruitful with the opening of Kisan school in 2021. The School has been a role model for farmers as it is carrying out new and innovative experiments on crops and vegetables with the help of Agriculture department and the process is still in progress. 

The Journey of  Innovation

Farmer Deendayal narrates his story " In 2012, I got a sample of half kilogram Australian Eisenia Fetida earthworm for vermicomposting from Agriculture department. " Afterwards he himself  started producing these earthworms . At present he has produced more than 12 quintals of earthworms and earned more than 12 lakhs by selling them. Also 8 lakh rupees have been earned by making vermicompost with those earthworms. He is also supplying these earthworms and vermicompost to government "Gothans". He is facing excess demand for them. 

The Journey Ahead

This is not the end of the journey  it is only one aspect of it. The School has patented not only 36 kinds of vegetables including Aamari, Chench and Chaulai bhaji but also many varieties of rice. The farmers are not only getting training in organic farming but they are also learning to make organic compost here which is proving to be greatly beneficial in the farming of vegetables and other plants like moringa, papaya, mango and lemon.

Courses Run in School

Any farmer of any age can enroll in various courses running in the school free of cost . Apart from vermicomposting and production of earthworms there are various schools of learning like mushroom production ,dairy farming, vegetable farming ,biogas plant setup, terrace gardening, poultry farming, pisciculture , apiculture, organic pesticide production, animal fodder production and farmer rights protection information. The school will provide training to farmers as per their field of interest. 

Milestones

The school's achievements doesn't stop here. It has fabricated jackets and rakhis through the fibres of amari and chench bhaji  and banana. The school is also experimenting on four layer system of farming of fruits and vegetables. In 2013, Australian farmer Krrish and his wife Merilina has visited the school as a part of the research on organic farming. Many farmers from US and Australia have visited the school from time to time. 

Talent needs no recognition rather it makes its own identity like a Shining Star among innumerable stars in the sky. This is applicable for Deendayal Yadav - the founder of Kisan School, a man dedicated for selfless service in the field of farming.