Genrobotic’s Bandicoot Robot Emerged as the Winner of Swachhata Startup Challenge 2022 by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Genrobotics, the leading Indian robotic company has emerged as the winner of The Swachhata Startup Challenge for their product Bandicoot, as the best innovative solution to eliminate manual scavenging, which also transforms the sanitation workers lives.

Nikhil NP (Director of Genrobotics), Rashid K (Director of Genrobotics), Manoj Joshi (Secretary of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs), Mr Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, Kaushal Kishore (Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs of India), Roopa Mishara (Joint Secretary & National Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban)

The program launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) and Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi is For Leveraging innovation and technology to eliminate social stigma and challenges. The event was felicitated by Shri. Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs of India, Shri. Kaushal Kishore, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, Roopa Mishra, Joint Secretary and National Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (MOHUA), and Manoj Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Genrobotics is addressing the issue of manual scavenging in India with Bandicoot, their flagship robotic product. Lauded by Prime Minister Modi, these robots are designed to completely eliminate manual scavenging and empower manual scavengers by turning them into robot operators along with many other positive social, economic and environmental impacts.

These advanced robots are well-equipped with gas sensing systems to detect hazardous gases thereby eliminating risks of accidents inside manholes. The interactive and user-friendly interface for manual scavengers’ aids in rehabilitation and uplift their life by making them robot operators to help them live a respectful and better life.

“Bandicoot is the most scientific and effective solution for removing manual intervention from manhole cleaning compared to any other grabbing and suction machines. It has special attributes including robotic arms, legs, and vision that aid sanitation workers in precise cleaning from outside the manholes. Bandicoots offer a cost-effective solution for the ULBs as well as efficiency and safety for the workers." said Nikhil NP, Director of Genrobotics.

In addition to many social-environment benefits, it brings huge financial advantages for the governments. Robotic scavenging is more efficient as it can cover up to 10 manholes every day against 1 or 2 being covered by manual scavenging. With huge savings on wages and operational costs, a municipal corporation can save approximately Rs 8000 Inr on cleaning 10 manholes a day.

Other cleaning techniques, such as sucking and grabbing machines, are also available, however, they are unable to remove solid waste, and the grabbing machine can only clean around 20% of the space inside the manhole. The authorities are required to use human labour in this case, however, Bandicoot outperforms other techniques of cleaning manhole blockages by a 100% cleaning efficiency because of its robotic arms that resemble human arms and bigger opening bucket design. For bandicoot to win the Swachhata Startup Challenge 2022, this was a significant turning point.

The initiative has experienced excellent success So far, it has rehabilitated over 1700+ workers across 17 states. It is currently being used by ULBs, smart cities, and refineries. Bandicoot Robot meets 9 out of 17 SDG goals set by the United Nations including good health, clean water and sanitation, good jobs and economic growth, innovation and Infrastructure, reduced inequalities, peace, justice and strong institutions. For its path-breaking efforts, the company has earned the trust of renowned business tycoons Anand Mahindra and Zoho Company as its investors. This technology won the AMRUT Tech Challenge Award as the Most Promising Innovative Solution for Sanitation by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India.

Ministry Selects 76 Startups for Water Management; Startups To Get Support of Up to ₹ 20 Lakh Each

76 startups have been onboarded under the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-Up Challenge’ by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) at an event in New Delhi on Friday.

Launched in March this year, the Start-up Water Challenge is under Atal mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 

The start-ups have been shortlisted by the Ministry through a challenge process launched in March, 2022 under AMRUT 2.0 Mission. In this regard, a ‘Startup Gateway’ has also been launched wherein the start-ups can apply and be shortlisted by MoHUA for financial support.

The shortlisted startups will be provided financial support of up to ₹ 20 lakh each to work in the fields of water supply, used water management, water body rejuvenation and ground water management etc., said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Besides the startups, a portal Urban Waterbody Information System (UWaIS) was also launched with help from National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad. The portal will provide satellite images of water bodies to various cities to plan their rejuvenation. 219 cities have been handed over UWaIS dossiers of water bodies during the event.

In addition to this, the Ministry also launched a Toolkit for ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ in 485 cities. Pey Jal Survekshan, under the Jal Jeevan Mission, will assess cities with respect to the quality of water and the quality of water delivery to the citizens, along with sewerage, septage management, grievance redressal, water body conservation, ground water management etc.

Govt. Launches Startup Challenge To Solve Urban Water Issues, To Fund Rs.2 Cr To 100 Startups Selected

Today, MoHUA organised an event - "India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave" - at India Habitat Centre to provide first of its kind networking platform to startups, young innovators, industry partners, incubators and States/cities. During the conclave, startup challenge was launched by Union Minister, HUA on MyGov platform.

With an aim to revamp the country's water management by inviting startups to solve the urban water problems, the government of India has just launched "India WaterPitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge" under Atal mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). 

Under this challenge, startups will be empowered in the water/ used-water sector to grow through innovation and design that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate employment opportunities. The MoHUA will select 100 startups and each will be provided Rs.20 lakhs as funding support as well as mentorship.

The start-ups providing innovative technological/ business solution in the following areas, are eligible to participate:

1. Fresh water systems
2. Hydro informatics – use of water + data for
3. Used water management
4. Urban Water Management
5. Agricultural Water Management
6. Urban Sewerage Management
7. Water governance
8. Innovation in conventional taps and plumbing systems

Union Minister of MoHUA & Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, said, "The Start-ups are the flavor of the season, as the number of Unicorns in the country has jumped, by leaps and bounds. uccess of the Government’s schemes hinges, to a large extent, to the role and contribution of stakeholders and others in the ecosystem. The Stakeholders' responses in water sector are crucial for formulising Government programmes as they know what actually is the need.

The minister said that AMRUT 2.0 is a transformative and unique scheme, with a huge outlay of over Rs 2.77 lakh crore. He said that the scheme will ensure water security in the country, reduce its transportation costs, reduce groundwater contamination, and increase water utilization capacity. He said for the success of the Mission, Start-ups will have to play a meaningful role- by bringing in innovative ideas, Technology, novel delivery mechanism, etc.

AMRUT 2.0, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 01 October, 2021, envisages identification of innovative, proven and potential environment friendly technologies in the fields of water & used water treatment, distribution and water body rejuvenation.
Through this challenge, MoHUA intends to select 100 start-ups providing workable and scalable solution for urban water problems.

For More information & details, check here