Pune celebrates social innovations

The fifth National Conference on Social Innovation saw 18 innovators presenting 18 unique and innovative ideas on the first day of the conference, with each innovation aiming to bring a positive impact and enhance the convenience and affordability of the end user. The two-day conference is being held at Yashada in Baner from 10 am onwards.

The fifth edition of the National Conference on Social Innovation (NCSI), hosted by Pune International Centre (PIC), was inaugurated on Friday by human resource and development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar.

Present on the occasion were eminent scientist Raghunath Mashelkar, president of PI; Vijay Kelkar, renowned economist and vice-president of PIC and Jayant Umranikar, chairman of International Longevity Centre, India (ILCI), among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Javadekar said, “The government aims to create an environment to boost innovation. Presently, we are lacking in innovation and efforts are being made to encourage it in all sectors.”

As part of the conference, the seventh Anjani Mashelkar Inclusive Innovation Award was presented to Dr Navin Khanna for his affordable and effective dengue test kit. Dr Khanna’s affordable ‘Dengue Day 1 test’ kit can detect dengue fever within 15 minutes from day one itself. It can differentiate between primary and secondary dengue virus infections, which is vital for the clinical management of dengue infected patients.

This unique kit can also detect the presence of the virus in a mosquito. The kit is now a market leader in India and has captured more than 80 per cent of the market share, with all southern states in India purchasing the kits in bulk, under the government of India rate contract. More than six million tests were sold in 2016 alone. This test kit is now being exported to other countries too.

Driven by creativity, science and social cause

The unique ideas presented at the conference aimed at bringing a positive impact and enhancing the convenience and affordability of the end user

URBAN THEMED INNOVATIONS

 1  POORTI KIT
Pavan Mehrotra (PhD in cancer sciences) from Faridabad, Haryana From Transitional Health Science and Technology provides relief to breast cancer patients through breast prosthetics and associated accessories.

 2  KHULA AASMAAN
Milind Vishwas Sathe A platform, that began in October 2016, where students from various regions can come together and showcase their creative talents free of cost. It encourages, enhances and exhibits artistic talent of children and young adults by facilitating contact, collaboration and competition.

 3  SAMIIDHA BHAWANI
Dr Pavan Kohli, an orthopedic surgeon A legal and comprehensive device that combines electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical and telecommunication engineering. The key feature of the device is the distress signal button, siren and torch, pepper spray, stun gun with non lethal shock and samurai baton weapon. Bhawani was unveiled in Delhi in 2015.

 4  MY CHILD
Harsh Songra, who suffered from a Dyspraxia (physical disability) for nine years An android app which uses artificial intelligence to track a child’s growth and inform their parents of any delays in their growth and development.

This app was launched in 2015. Songra launched ‘We. Included’ in February this year, a platform to spread awareness of developmental disorders.

 5  BEE BASKET
Amit Godse An organisation that rescues bees from urban areas and relocates them safely in nature, with the idea of pollination and help sustain ecology and biodiversity. Godse began this initiative in 2015 after leaving his software engineering job.

◼ Amit Godse started the organisation to rescur and relocate bees safely in nature. (HT PHOTO)

 6  PUNE CITY CONNECT
Ruchi Mathur, CEO of Pune CityConnect An organisation that brings together the various forces of Pune which have been operating for social development. This organisation was formed in 2011 and works on three developmental tracks viz quality of education, digital literacy and sustainable livelihood.

TRIBAL THEMED INNOVATIONS

 1  DENGUE DETECTING MACHINE
Dr Shivraj Dasari (SLS Cell Cure Technologies Pvt Ltd) Dr Dasari created an innovation using Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (NAAT), Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification and POC panels that can accurately diagnose dengue virus at very low costs.

 2  BIO-TOILET
Dr Praskash Bhaskar Joshi Dr Joshi manufactured a bio-toilet which is rust-free and it has a tank capacity of 200 litres, which can serve 15 people.

 3  FENCE
Adarsh Krishnan K V (BAIF) Krishnan devised a fence with inverter transformer circuit which includes a buzzer kit (siren kit) in tandem with a relay circuit for standby battery which will keep wild animals away from farms but not cause any serious damage to them.

 4  DRILLING MACHINE, BAMBOO PEN
Anant Vats (Tribalsmart Technologies) Developed a sanding and hole drilling machine and a bamboo pen.

 5  INTEGRATED LIBRARY
Niharikaa N (BAIF) Niharikaa began her work by incepting a library in Jawhar, which inculcates the joy of reading through various mediums such as story-telling, theatre, art and audio-visual implementation.

 6  ELECTRIC CONVERSION KIT
Rajeev Ranadive (Pixy Electric Cars) Pixy Electric Cars has developed an ‘Electric Conversion Kit’ which replaces the engines of the regular 4x4 cars that are currently being used for wild life Safaris.

RURAL THEMED INNOVATIONS

 1  AIR-ASSISTED ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYER
Dr Manoj Kumar Patel (CSIR Chandigarh) The device uses electrostatic force field in its design and aims to increase the mass transfer efficiency, pesticide bio-efficacy, uniform deposition, maximum canopy coverage and liquid pest on the crops.

 2  JEEVTRONICS
Ashish Gawade First hand-cranked defibrillator which works without electricity and costs 1/4th of the existing devices in the market. Defibrillators are used to prevent cardiac arrests.

 3  HOLLOW FIBRE MEMBRANCES
Dr Rajendra Kharul, Genrich Membranes These membranes for asthama patients and pre-term babies with respiratory problems, works on making oxygen therapy affordable and accessible to patients from all socio-economics groups.

 4  BAIF SLURRY FILTER (BSF)
Dhanaj KM It is a one of its kind filter for recovering solid contents and separating water from slurry in small scale biogas units with gravity and retention without using any external energy.

 5  SAATHI PADS
Kristen Kagetsu India’s first biodegradable sanitary pad made from banana fibres and zero chemicals.

 6  BIO-EXHAUST
Dr K Balakrishnan Dr Balakrishnan created a cartridge, made out of processed fungal mat grown on select solid waste material from agro industries, which can be used as an exhaust guard to two or three-wheelers to reduce pollution.

Javadekar appreciated the work done by Dr Navin Khanna and all the other innovators presenting their ideas. He presented certificates and felicitated all innovators sharing their unique innovations at the conference.

After receiving the award, Dr Khanna said that in 26 years, this is the first time that someone has recognised his contribution which is very encouraging.

Sharing his views, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar said, “Social innovation has to lead to inclusion. Hence, connecting the urban and the rural through innovation is very important. Innovation in all sectors is the need of the hour. Today India is leading in dengue deaths. Considering this, Dr Khanna’s affordable ‘Dengue Day 1 test’ kit is a very important innovation.”

Today’s Highlights

The second day of the conference will have sessions like CSR Resources for Social Enterprise by Vinayak Kelkar, Legal and Financial Aspects by advocate Manoj Wadekar and Social Enterprise Ecosystem in India by National Innovation Foundation by Mr Tushar Garg. It would be held at MCCIA from 10 am onwards.