Ashoka Pillar Awards for tackling air pollution
New Delhi: Ashoka University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship hosted the inaugural edition of the Ashoka Pillar Award, to select and award young talent for their innovative solutions to tackle the worsening air quality in India on Tuesday at the campus in Sonepat. The winning teams will receive Rs. 6.5 lakhs, Rs. 1.8 lakhs and Rs. 1.4 lakhs respectively.
The winners are:
1. Eklavya Singh for EZ-Harv designed as a solution for the prevention of stubble burning (Rs 6.5 Lakhs)
2. Twinkle Malhan and Aadesh Pratap Singh for the The Aerohealer which uses aeroponics technology and the Aloe Vera plant.(Rs 1.8 Lakhs)
3. Rohit Rawat for the Green Air, an innovative bio-tech air-filter to quantifiably improve air quality. (Rs 1.4 lakhs)
“The technology that I’ve come to value by being an inquisitive engineer is the technology of ancient India which was about conquering desires instead of fulfilling desires,” says Sonam Wangchuk, Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner 2018, speaking at the Ashoka Pillar Awards about how materialistic desires have led to the rise of industries thereby causing increased air pollution in today’s world.
Urban air pollution is growing at alarming rates. A majority of cities are caught in the toxic web as air quality fails to meet regulatory health standards. Almost all cities are reeling under severe particulate pollution while newer pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and air toxics have begun to add to the public health challenge.
The six finalists made presentations on ideas that included ways to reduce the concentration of particular matter and other pollutants, provide affordable, eco-friendly alternative to expensive traditional harvesters, prevent stubble burning, and more.
Priyank Narayan, Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship, Ashoka University said, “The Ashoka Pillar Award is an attempt to bring some of the best minds to address real world challenges that we face every day. We are committed to working with these entrepreneurs to bring their innovations to reality.”