Youth Group creates public hands-free handwashing system

Members of the CII-Young Indians from Chennai worked together with two other association to launch the Sugadharam project, to provide the Chennai population with safe stations where people can sanitize their hands. The idea came as a result of the recommendations from heath authorities about the need for frequent hand washing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The most crucial advice given by the government is for people to cover their nose and mouth in public, and wash their hands regularly.With the production of sanitisers taking a hit, we had to come up with an alternative solution to help spread cleanliness. Thus, the touch-free hand wash station was ideated,” explained Adi Rungta, member of the Young Indians Chennai Chapter.

Each unit has four different wasing stations, each with a basin and two pedals. The right pedal controls the water tap while the left pedal releases the soap solution. Through this system, people can wash their hands without have to touch any element with their hands.

“It’s extremely easy to use. People of all ages, languages and backgrounds can keep clean and reduce the spread of the virus” explained Vishal Mehta, chairman of the Young Indians Chennai Chapter.

After finalizing the prototype, the team manufactured 5 units that were placed nearby local markets, but the goal is to distribute 150 units around the city in the next months. They will count on the collaboration from the local authorities to refill the soap and water contains every day.

Adapted from https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/apr/25/hands-free-u...