HUL – #StartupIndia GRAND WATER SAVING CHALLENGE

Overview In support of the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) and the UN SDGs, Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) in association with Invest India, Startup India, and AGNIi is launching the Grand Water Saving Challenge. The Challenge aims to address the need for an efficient flush system in public toilets to ensure optimum usage of water and a clean and hygienic toilet. The national challenge has been catalysed by the ‘Healthy Cities and Communities’ initiative by the World Economic Forum that aims to improve people’s well-being by enabling them to live longer and fuller lives in their local environments.

In collaboration with the Toilet Board Coalition (TBC), the national challenge is inviting start-ups, technologists, R&D labs, incubators, independent inventors, and youth to participate and make a difference with their innovative solutions. Participants can submit their entries via Startup India hub free of cost.

The winners of the challenge will receive a cash prize of INR 5 Lakh in addition to an opportunity to install and pilot their invention at one of the Suvidha centres, community hygiene centres conceptualized by HUL in Mumbai.

DETAILED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA a. The challenge is open to Startups that are registered with DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade) b. The Challenge is also open to academic institutions that may not be registered as above. c. Employees of the Company, its Affiliates, distributors, appointed agency/entity holding the Challenge, their families and immediate relatives are not eligible to participate in the program. d. The Challenge is valid for Indian nationals residing in India who are eighteen years of age or above and who are not legally ineligible to participate for any reason whatsoever.

Problem Statement There is a need for an innovative water saving flush system designed for squat latrines to ensure clean and hygienic toilets for all.

Public toilets remain one of the most challenging shared spaces in terms of cleanliness, hygiene, and operations and maintenance. Water supply to these is often limited and the burden of wastewater and faecal sludge management & treatment is high as well. There is a need for a better flush system that uses less water while ensuring a clean and hygienic toilet. The participants of this challenge need to design (stage 1) and prototype (stage2) a flush system on a squat toilet pan (can be made from ceramic or recycled plastic) that uses no more than 2.5 litres of water to clean the pan surface of any visible faecal residues evaluated using actual or simulated human faeces. Incentives Fiscal Incentives 1st Prize – Rs. 5,00,000 2nd Prize – Rs. 2,50,000

To know more and apply, visit- https://bit.ly/3c62JEf

Entries close by 10th May 2021 Dr Ghanshyam,TPO,BIT Sindri