Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil said technology becomes truly successful only when it reaches people and is easy for communities to use while addressing the DDWS Innovation Challenge Grand Finale in New Delhi. The event showcased innovative solutions for safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission and plastic waste management under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), with the government encouraging affordable, scalable and community-friendly technologies for rural India.
Key Highlights
✅ Union Minister C.R. Patil stresses community-friendly technology for rural India.
✅ DDWS Innovation Challenge showcased solutions for safe drinking water and plastic waste management.
✅ Six startups selected under Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
✅ Winning technologies may be piloted in rural areas after further evaluation.
New Delhi, July 01: Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil has emphasised that technology achieves real success only when it reaches people and is simple enough for communities to use effectively. Speaking at the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS) Innovation Challenge Grand Finale in New Delhi, the Minister called for affordable, scalable and sustainable innovations that can strengthen rural drinking water systems and plastic waste management across India.
The event was held in the presence of V. Somanna, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Railways, Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Kamal Kishore Soan, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ms. Aishvarya Singh, Joint Secretary and Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), senior officials, IIT Madras experts, innovators and startup founders.
Focus on Safe Drinking Water Under Jal Jeevan Mission
Highlighting the success of the Jal Jeevan Mission, C.R. Patil said the initiative, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has transformed rural India by providing tap water connections to crores of households.
He noted that the next phase of the mission must focus on ensuring safe drinking water, stressing that every household should receive not only water but quality-tested potable water.
The Minister pointed out that timely water quality testing remains a challenge in many remote villages and called upon innovators to develop:
- Portable water testing devices
- Low-cost testing technologies
- Easy-to-use village-level solutions
- Community-operated monitoring systems
He said these technologies should empower Gram Panchayats, Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs), Self Help Groups and local youth to monitor drinking water quality efficiently.
Rural Plastic Waste Management Needs Local Solutions
Addressing another major challenge, Patil highlighted the growing volume of plastic waste in rural India, particularly multi-layer plastic (MLP) generated from packaged food products such as chips packets, biscuit wrappers and pouches.
He observed that transporting such waste to distant recycling facilities is often expensive and impractical.
The Minister advocated village-level and block-level plastic processing technologies capable of converting waste into useful resources while supporting the Circular Economy.
He added that innovative waste management solutions should generate employment opportunities for rural entrepreneurs and contribute to the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.
DDWS Innovation Challenge Receives Strong Response
The DDWS Innovation Challenge, organised in collaboration with IIT Madras, was launched to identify practical and scalable technologies in two priority areas:
- Safe Drinking Water under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
- Plastic Waste Management under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen)
The challenge received an encouraging response from innovators across the country.
According to the Department:
- 348 applications were registered.
- 90 complete applications were received under the Water Innovation Challenge.
- 66 complete applications were received under the Plastic Waste Management Challenge.
Six Innovative Startups Selected
Following detailed evaluation by a selection committee chaired by Prof. Ligy Philip of IIT Madras, six innovative technologies were selected.
Jal Jeevan Mission Winners
The following startups were selected for innovative drinking water technologies:
- Chembiosens Pvt. Ltd.
- Jaljyoti Process Pvt. Ltd.
- Plastic Surge Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Their innovations include:
- Portable water quality testing devices
- Chemical testing technologies
- Bacteriological testing solutions
- Field testing kits for rural water supply systems
These technologies are expected to make village-level water quality monitoring faster, more accurate and easier to implement.
Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Winners
Under plastic waste management, the selected startups were:
- Crosslinx Pvt. Ltd.
- BiGlyso Pvt. Ltd.
- Vigya Crafts Pvt. Ltd.
Their solutions focus on:
- Small-scale plastic waste processing
- Affordable recycling technologies
- Sustainable waste management models
- Community-based circular economy solutions
The awards were presented by Union Minister C.R. Patil.
Pilot Projects Planned
The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation stated that the selected technologies will undergo further assessment for:
- Safety
- Technical feasibility
- Scalability
- Rural suitability
- Operational practicality
Based on performance, the government may implement pilot projects in selected rural areas before considering wider deployment.
Innovation Critical for Sustainable Rural Development
Speaking during the event, Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, said innovation will be central to ensuring the long-term sustainability of rural drinking water and sanitation infrastructure created under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
He emphasised that technologies for rural India must be:
- Affordable
- Durable
- Repairable
- Data-enabled
- Easy to operate in field conditions
He also highlighted the importance of integrating portable water testing devices with mobile applications, enabling real-time data capture, geo-tagging and faster reporting.
The Secretary further advocated decentralised plastic waste management models that promote recycling, resource recovery and livelihood generation while reducing transportation costs.
Conclusion
The DDWS Innovation Challenge Grand Finale demonstrated the Government of India’s commitment to leveraging innovation for improving rural drinking water quality and sustainable plastic waste management. By encouraging affordable, scalable and community-friendly technologies, the initiative supports the goals of the Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen), Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat while empowering rural communities with practical, technology-driven solutions.
