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| Deccan Herald » Science
& Technology » Detailed Story |
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| Charting paths of innovation |
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Manoj Rammohan
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Indigenous dreams...
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‘Pioneers don’t have role models’ -
astronaut Kalpana Chawla’s remarks, though made in a different
context, rings in a reality for rural India. Ordinary lives ,
routine chores and ability to dream, are all it took for these
individuals to turn into innovators. Thanks to the Ahmedabad-based
National Innovation Foundation for spotting indigenous talent who
have churned out innovative utilities varying from a washing machine
with pedals to recharging mobiles with wind energy. Deccan
Herald caught up with a few of them who were recently in the
city.
Pedal and wash
Remya Jose, then a tenth
class student (in 2003), found it difficult to manage home and
studies together. She desired to have a washing machine, at least
the burden of cleaning clothes could be lessened.
Immediately,
after her final examinations, she sat with sheets of white paper and
a pencil. Much re-drawings and erasures later, Remya came up with a
sketch - a square box having a meshed metal circle inside and
attached to pedals from outside. A small pipe protruded from the
box.
It was the model of a ‘pedal operated washing machine’.
Before, finalising the drawing, she was concerned about generating
both ‘water spinning motion’ and ‘beating force’ to clean the
clothes. Only then, she decided to go for pedals (for generating
mechanical energy). “With the sketch, I went to the nearby
automobile shop asking them to provide me with the materials. Only
my parents were aware of the whole thing and it took about two to
three months ,” says Remya. The raw materials were GI Tin, aluminium
(for the whole frame) and pedals. Remya is now awaiting the patent
and is expecting to make it commercially available in the next few
months.
A machine for milk
He just wanted to
make the process of milking more easier and ended up in creating a
‘manual milking machine’, made of stainless steel. The apparatus has
four small pipes
attached to a suction pump, which connects
to a steel can.
“It was designed way back in 2001 and we
have 12 different models of the machine. One of the features is that
it helps farmers to hygienically milk the animals,” Raghav Gowda
from Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka.
The models are priced at
Rs 10,125.
Climbing made easy
It’s more or
less a best seller and even a few people from United States have
requested for its patent to market the ‘Tree climber’ in their
country.
Easy to use, it is made of iron rods and metal
wires. Grounded with two poles on either side, the climber has two
circular projections which embraces the tree. While climbing, the
metal wire spreads around the tree which is connected to the foot
rest, gets tightened and helps in climbing.
“It consists of
handle, main frame, metal rope and belt. Around 15 to 20 days are
required to make a climber and till now, more than 50,000 units have
been sold,” points out Appachan alias M J Joseph from Kerala, who
made this climber. The cost of the tree climber is Rs 1,475, adds
Appachan
Very cool!
Coming from a family of
potters, Mansukh Prajapati from Rajkot, Gujarat, tried to cool water
by pouring it into a small pot; and placing it in a larger clay pot
filled with water. Encouraged by the outcome, he modified the shape
into a square - it is called ‘Miticool-Village Fridge’. Unlike the
regular fridge, ‘Miticool’ is made of just clay and sand. A small
opening at the top helps to pour water into it and down below the
structure, there is a tap. First, it acts as a water filter
(cleansing property of carbon present in sand).
“A square
chamber with a glass door is part of the structure which keeps
vegetables fresh for as long as five days. Even milk will be
unspoilt in the fridge for one day,” says Mansukh. The product costs
Rs 2,000. |
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Tuesday, February 28, 2006
