Thanks to a heat-powered blower for a mud stove, a student from Odisha Institute of Technology, Bhubaneswar has emerged as the winner of the 7th National Level Social Enterprise Idea Challenge organized by Azim Premji University.
Fifteen teams were selected for the final round from around 100 entries from universities across the country. Submissions spanned the fields of education, livelihoods, health, sustainability and governance.
The winning team consisting of Anup Paikaray, Akankhya Dhupal, Priyanka Senapati and Divyanshu developed something called ‘Chuliv’. It was the world’s first thermally powered blower for mud stoves and claimed to reduce carbon emissions by 60% and improve stove performance. 40%. This automatic non-electric device absorbs excess heat, increases the performance of the stove and contributes to the preservation of wood. This is consistent with his SDG 13, SDG 3 and SDG 7 and promotes affordable clean energy without significantly changing cooking methods.
The runner-up Inayat team from Ramjas College, University of Delhi (DU) included team members Saniya Gupta, Pragun Kumar and Siya Rai. By processing water hyacinth into handicrafts, they focused on clean water, climate action, and decent livelihoods, promoting sustainable development goals and economic growth.
The third team, WARAQ, also from Ramjas College, DU, focused on sustainability by producing disposable cutlery that is both eco-friendly and durable. This project starts with a small customer base and focuses on waste management. Each item is crafted and shaped with plant seeds inserted during manufacture. Biodegradable items are easier to dispose of and encourage plant growth.
Nazrul Haq, Mentor, Social Enterprise Cell, Azim Premji University, said, “It is heartening to see young students recognizing social problems and taking a deep interest in finding solutions.” The majority of winners of the last six challenges have founded organizations that contribute to social change. Many have received additional financial and leadership support from incubators and leading organizations such as IIT Kanpur, IIM Bangalore, and YCombinator. We have been successful in gathering support.”
In 2016, Azim Premji University launched its annual ‘Social Enterprise Idea Challenge’. The challenge brings together students from across India to explore social entrepreneurship in a rigorous and competitive environment and share ideas for innovative social change. The event also serves as a networking platform for young people to meet each other, exchange ideas and showcase their talents and skills to early stage mentors and funders.
