MUMBAI:BBC World News show Horizons takes a tour of India and highlights a few innovative ideas and practices followed in the country. From the ambitious biometric system called Aadhar to the SMS authentication service to counter problem for proliferation of fake drugs, India has proud moments along with nations like China, UK & US also working towards similar issues.
1.Scientists at IIT have developed a biodegradable emulsion called Fru Wash. The emulsion contains anti-oxidant and anti-microbial qualities, which slow the process of ripening and could increase the shelf life of produce without the need for refrigeration. Fru Wash is used in the field after harvesting when produce is freshest and the chemical most effective
2.To counter problem for proliferation of fake drugs, PharmaSecure has worked with leading companies in India to roll out their SMS authentication service on over 100 million drug packages for the domestic market. The system is allowing consumers to authenticate medicines by mobile phone
3.K.K. Plastics collects plastic which is shredded and eventually turned into roads. The plastic is mixed with asphalt at 150 degrees Celsius to produce polymerized bitumen. The plastic acts as a binding agent, helping road surfaces hold together better at higher temperatures. Since plastic is water-resistant, the roads don’t get waterlogged, have fewer potholes and need repairs less frequently than conventional roads
4.The launch of the biometric system is called Aadhar where a 12-digit unique ID is generated using both ten fingerprints and two Iris scans, which boosts accuracy and reduces duplication
5.Zed Earth, two eco-friendly housing developments in Bangalore which aim to be almost entirely independent from the civic infrastructure for water and electricity using renewable energy sources
6.The so called Advanced Heavy Water Reactor is being developed to accommodate Thorium as its core fuel. A prototype reactor is being constructed at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre based on this mineral; leading to independence from imports
7.The twin pit toilet developed by Sulabh Sanitation Movement in New Delhi is already improving sanitation for an estimated 10 million people daily. The simple toilet uses two pits dug into the ground connected to a traditional squat lavatory. This reduces water use and needs no chemicals to treat the waste.
8.ZMQ Software Solutions, Delhi-based technology for social development company. create mobile phone apps and educational games to help and empower the poorest in society. A group of women who have been able to start their own small businesses using apps, which provide access to microloans and teach basic economic skills
9.Housing districts like Chembur have started to deal with 8,000 metric tonnes of waste it generates daily. A women’s collective gathers Chembur’s rubbish and biodegradable wet material, which makes up to 60 percent of the district’s household waste – is composted on-site and used for gardening, while dry material is recycled. Similar schemes are now running at 40 locations around Mumbai.
