Thematic Area : Waste Management & Infrastructure
Project Guide(s) : Mr. Sampath Kumar, Electrical and Electronics Engineering and Christopher Cooley, AMMACHI Labs
Amrita Partners : Aishwarya.N, Aiswarya. M.S, B.Saravanan, Hari Lakshman, and M. Ramprasath
Village : Indpur, Himachal Pradesh
Project Duration : One semester
Identified Challenge & Aim :
With an increase in globalization, consumerism has touched all parts of India, including its villages. While the benefits of globalization and development are prevalent, an adverse byproduct is the increase of non-biodegradable waste proliferating into rural communities – settlements that have always been known for their natural and pristine environments. The current project seeks to understand ground realities and challenges faced by villagers related to waste management.
The Study/Innovation :
The team first conducted a survey to understand social, cultural, economic, political, environmental, and technological factors and features in the village. They also went around the village and made a resource map. This gave the team a clear picture of the sustainable resources available in the village and helped the team understand the quantity of the resources available. This was subsequently followed by group discussions with villagers to understand current practices in waste management and subsequent challenges faced in the village as a whole. The team also conducted semi structured interviews with villagers to learn about waste management practices at the household level. The interviews were followed with brainstorming sessions and an informal assessment of possible solutions. In collaboration with the local school, the team initiated a village-wide clean-up drive. Students subsequently designed, developed, and proposed a sustainable, customized waste management program for the village.
