DDWS encourages start-ups to come up with innovations in rural

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti organised a virtual orientation for start-ups across the country, introducing them to challenges in solid and liquid in rural areas, with a view to encouraging them to come up with innovations solutions in rural areas. The meeting is expected to pave the way for the development of an engagement plan with Start-ups.

The purpose of the meeting was to promote innovations in rural sanitation that are suitable for rural India and cost effective, requiring minimum O&M, according to Mr. Arun Baroka, Additional Secretary, Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen (SBM-G), DDWS who made a presentation that identified the potential for start-ups to engage in SBM-G, offering them handholding support.

At the outset, Mr. Anil Agrawal, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, , spoke about the Mission that was launched by the on 16th January 2016. Over the past five years, the Mission has reached 580 districts across 48 different sectors – from Agriculture to Space and as a result, all the States and Union Territories of the country have at least one start-up. Mr. Agrawal also mentioned that more than 45 per cent of the start-ups are from Tier II and Tier III cities and smaller towns; 45 per cent of them have women as Directors and together, they have contributed to the creation of more than 400,000 jobs.

Shedding some light on the National Start-up awards, he said that the awards this year will have 36 categories, of which rural sanitation is one. Winners will be provided incubation support, mentorship, corporate connect and handholding support, among others.

The Start-up India team would provide support to identify the best startups to bring innovation to the rural sanitation sector – so they can solve real problems that face our society.

In his presentation, Mr. Baroka pointed out that in Phase I of SBM-G the Mission achieved an ODF (Open Free) India, that has had a positive effect on health, women upliftment, and the overall economy. In Phase II of SBM-G, the focus has shifted to effective management of solid and liquid waste to bring about visual cleanliness of villages leading to Sampoorn Swachhata. The Mission will continue to work on 2 verticals – sustaining the gains along with Solid and Liquid waste management and drinking water.

The presentation also covered ways to move towards Sampoorn Swachhata, categories of waste in rural areas (both solid and liquid); overall challenges in waste management in rural areas including that pertaining to solid waste including plastics, liquid waste, and faecal sludge.

Calling for solutions that can be adopted in rural areas and ways to convert waste into resources, the Additional Secretary called upon the Start-ups to come up with innovations, explaining about the rewards and recognition they would be given.

“The Government has come up with a scheme to promote Start-ups. Your innovations will be significant given the COVID-19 situation when hygiene and sanitation have gained far more importance,” Mr. Baroka added.

The discussion that followed had various entrepreneurs speak of their innovations in menstrual hygiene management, faecal sludge management, solid waste management and the prototypes they have created.

The AS assured them of Government support and informed them of the next steps to take forward the initiative.