Saturday, March 22, 2014

Indian Researchers Selected to Develop Next Generation Toilets

22032014


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Indian and global researchers gather at 㒥invent the Toilet Fair: India䠴o discuss how to bring safe sanitation to the 2.5 billion people who lack access

New Delhi, March 22, 2014缯span>Six Indian innovators were selected today to contribute to the development of sanitation solutions as part of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge: India. From a pool of 108 applications, these projects were chosen following an extensive, rigorous selection process by an expert committee.

The 㒥invent the Toilet Challenge: India䠩s a collaborative effort of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India; Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), A Government of India Enterprise; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund Indian researchers to develop innovative, safe and affordable sanitation technologies. This program is an India-specific program modeled on the Gates FoundationⳊ global Reinvent the Toilet Challenge. The DBT and the Gates Foundation invested a combined US$2 million, equally split, to support Indian investigators to drive research, development, and production of 㮥xt-generation toilets.伯span>

The grants were announced today by Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, Secretary DBT & Chairman, BIRAC at the 㒥invent the Toilet Fair: India䬠an event held in New Delhi that showcased innovative products and approaches that aim to bring safe, affordable and sustainable sanitation to those who need it most.

Co-hosted by the DBT and the Gates Foundation, the fair included more than 45 exhibitors representing 15 nations and featured projects to stimulate discussion among a diverse group of stakeholders working to improve global sanitation. These include efforts to create toilets that are not connected to water, sewer or electricity; improve the collection, treatment and disposal of human waste; address behavior change; and raise awareness of this critical issue for governments, stakeholders and local communities.

The fair was an opportunity to recognize IndiaⳠleadership and commitment to improving child health and fostering innovative solutions to persistent development challenges. It also was an opportunity to hasten manufacturing opportunities in India of existing sanitation products.

ㅦfective and comprehensive sanitation seems an impossible dream for India,䠳aid Professor K. Vijay Raghavan. 㙥t today we see a congruence of new and applicable science and technology, its affordability, and sustainable implementation. This congruence is a great opportunity which we cannot afford to let slip. By implementing effective solutions in each kind of social context, big problems can be dealt with in small units and be catalysts for scaling up. By working together to hit big barriers at the right place and the right way, they can crumble and the impossible can become real.伯span>



Also announced today at the fair, the Department of Science and Technology for the Republic of South Africa is committing ZAR 30 million to field test technologies developed as part of the Gates FoundationⳠglobal Reinvent the Toilet Challenge in rural communities and schools. The foundation is contributing US $1 million to support this testing.

ス applying creative thinking and new approaches to sanitation challenges, we can improve peopleⳠlives. And we have no doubt that these new partnerships with India and South Africa will help us achieve this,䊠said Brian Arbogast, director of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 㗥 believe that with governmental leadership, new business models and innovation, we can dramatically increase the progress made in tackling this global sanitation crisis.䠼/span>

The fair was an opportunity for the16 global Reinvent the Toilet Challenge (RTTC) grantees, funded by the Gates Foundation, to exhibit progress and demonstrate project prototypes.

㗥 are impressed by the progress the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge grantees have made,䠳aid Arbogast. ㏵r goal is to fund the development of complete solutions solutions that are affordable, that work, and that people want to use. Our grantees have been working on aggressive timelines and we are very encouraged by the progress of these grantees have made since the first fair in August 2012. 㼯span>

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Editor Notes:

The details of the grant recipients for the 㒥invent the Toilet Challenge: India䠡re as follows:

1.     Eram Scientific Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Kerela in collaboration with University of South Florida: A field trial grant to test off-grid, self-sustained, modular, electronic toilet for houses and communities with solar energy for Indian weather, integrated with mixed waste processing unit. The project will couple a modern, public toilet with an advanced onsite, biological treatment system. It will be housed in a standalone unit that will be initially field tested in a suburban slum.
2.     Amrita School of Biotechnology, Kerela: A proof of concept grants to use viral agents to target and kill pathogens and odour-producing bacteria in fecal waste and also develop for a way to integrate this into waste treatment systems. This is a proof of concept grant.
3.     Pradin Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore: The project will test the concept of using ultra-sound to reduce water use in a toilet. It will also test the ability to enhance the settling of fecal particles in a storage tank using ultra-sound. This is a proof of concept grant.
4.     Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee in collaboration with Fresh rooms Life Sciences: The project will develop a single household container that will cultivate Black Soldier Fly larvae, using human faeces, which can be processed into valuable products. The project will also demonstrate the market potential for these products. This is a proof of concept grant.
5.     Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai: The project will evaluate the concept of using fine sand-like material and an air blower to create a water-free toilet interface that is free from odour and flies.
6.     BITS PILANI K. K. Birla Goa Campus in collaboration with Ghent University and Sustainable Biosolutions LLP: The project will demonstrate a novel septic tank design that integrates electrochemistry to reduce organic pollutants and improve the quality of effluent discharged. The system will be demonstrated at a single household and society/gated community. This is a proof of concept grant.

The Reinvent the Toilet Fair: India hosted approximately 700 attendees祸hibiting teams represented 15 nations and general participants represented 42 nations. For a full list of exhibitors visit, http://www.gatesfoundation.org/What-We-Do/Global-Development/Reinvent-the-Toilet-Challenge.


High resolution images and b-roll footage from the Reinvent the Toilet Fair: India can be found athttp://gatesfoundation.isebox.net/water-sanitation-hygiene/reinvent-the-toilet-fair-india/.

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people live healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving peopleⳠhealth and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. The Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationⳠWater, Sanitation & Hygiene (WSH) program works to develop tools and technologies that can lead to sustainable and substantial improvements in sanitation in the developing world.

About Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India

The India Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology has given a new impetus to the development of the field of modern biology and biotechnology in India since its establishment in 1986. The department promotes and accelerates the pace of development of biotechnology in the country by providing support for Indian universities, research organizations, infrastructure establishment, bioclusters and the promotion of public-private partnerships. The department has made significant achievements in the growth and application of biotechnology in the broad areas of agriculture, health care, animal sciences, environment and industry, with the goal of benefitting society and the environment. India is uniquely positioned to be a global leader in the development of new sustainable sanitation solutions. The department is committed to partner with all the relevant Government of India ministries to use science and technology to find impactful solutions.

About Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Section 25 Ꭿt-for-Profit Company⠯f Government of India, that has been set up as Department of BiotechnologyⳊ interface agency, which serves as a single window for the emerging biotech industries. As a Government of India enterprise, it provides support to catalyse the transformation of the emerging Indian bio-economy. The primary focus of BIRAC is to play a catalytic role in fashioning, building and scaling a true Indian bio-economy that puts biotechnology at the centre stage of the growth story of India and which addresses the multitudes of challenges that the country faces and helps in delivering solutions that are innovative and affordable. One of the major focus of BIRACⳠis to reduce the risk inherent in the innovation pipeline from the origination of an ᩤea⠡nd its journey through several hurdles, be it at prototype or at pilot and scale up stages, to become a successful commercialized product.

Quake M6.5 - NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION

Quake M6.5 – NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION

22032014

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude6.5
Date-Time
  • 21 Mar 2014 13:41:07 UTC
  • 21 Mar 2014 19:41:08 near epicenter
  • 21 Mar 2014 17:41:07 standard time in your timezone
Location7.769N 94.325E
Depth10 km
Distances
  • 113 km (70 mi) E of Mohean, India
  • 234 km (145 mi) NNW of Sabang, Indonesia
  • 268 km (166 mi) NNW of Banda Aceh, Indonesia
  • 319 km (197 mi) NW of Sigli, Indonesia
  • 946 km (586 mi) SW of Bangkok, Thailand
Location UncertaintyHorizontal: 0.0 km; Vertical 2.1 km
ParametersNph = 103; Dmin = 403.7 km; Rmss = 1.06 seconds; Gp = 71°

India ranks 54th in Trade Logistics Performance across Globe – World Bank


The World Bank in its report Connecting to Compete 2014: Trade Logistics in the Global Economy, shows the performance of countries across the world  on the basis of Logistics Performance Index (LPI) which  is an indicator of  on-the ground efficiency of trade supply chains, or logistics performance . The index ranks 160 countries depending on a number of aspects of global trade, including customs performance, infrastructure quality, and timeliness of shipments to reflect on the timeliness, cost and reliability of country’s execution of international trade.
According to the report, high-income countries dominate the top 10 rankings and also remained relatively unchanged since 2010. Germany is reported as the best performing country with an LPI score of 4.12 and followed by Netherlands , Belgium , United Kingdom , Singapore , Sweden , Norway , Luxembourg , United States , and Japan with an LPI score ranging from 4.05 to 3.91.
With an overall rank of 54, India with the LPI score of 3.08 is ranked 3rd amongst lower-middle income countries. India is also reported as the over performing trade logistics performance amongst the non high-income economies. The other over performing non high-income economies are Malaysia , South Africa , China , Thailand and Vietnam . However, India ’s trade logistic performance has exhibited a fall as compared with 2010 when LPI score of 3.12 was recorded for the country.
Trade Logistic Performance comparison with select countries
Countries
Particulars
Customs
Infrastructure
International Shipments
Logistics, Quality & Competence
Tracking & Tracing
Timeliness
India
Rank
65
58
44
52
57
51
Score
2.72
2.88
3.2
3.03
3.11
3.51
China
Rank
38
23
22
35
29
36
Score
3.21
3.67
3.5
3.46
3.5
3.87
Malaysia
Rank
27
26
10
32
23
31
Score
3.37
3.56
3.64
3.47
3.58
3.92
South Africa
Rank
42
38
25
24
41
33
Score
3.11
3.2
3.45
3.62
3.3
3.88
Thailand
Rank
36
30
39
38
33
29
Score
3.21
3.4
3.3
3.29
3.45
3.96
Vietnam
Rank
61
44
42
49
48
56
Score
2.81
3.11
3.22
3.09
3.19
3.49
Source: PHD Research Bureau, compiled from World Bank
Note - The LPI index is a multidimensional assessment of logistics performance, rated on a scale from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). The six core components captured by the LPI survey are rated by respondents on a scale of 1–5, where 1 is very low or very difficult and 5 is very high or very easy. Ranks are given out of 160 countries.
Suggested strategies to improve logistics performance:
In low-income countries, the biggest gains typically come from improvements to infrastructure and basic border management. This might mean reforming a customs agency, but, increasingly, it means improving efficiency in other agencies present at the border, including those responsible for sanitary and phyto-sanitary controls. Often, multiple approaches are required.
Middle-income countries, by contrast, usually have fairly well-functioning infrastructure and border control. They generally see the biggest gains from improving logistics services, and particularly outsourcing specialized functions, such as transportation, freight-forwarding, and warehousing.
In high-income countries, there is a growing awareness of – and a demand for – “green logistics,” or logistics services that are environmentally friendly. In 2014, about 37 percent of LPI survey respondents shipping to OECD countries recognized a demand for environmentally friendly logistics solutions, compared with just 10 percent of those shipping to low-income destinations.
Warm regards,

Dr. S P Sharma
Chief Economist

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