Ghaziabad (Delhi NCR)-based green crusader Krishi Bhat (14) triumphed over ten finalists to be crowned winner of the inaugural ‘Seven-day Challenge of Innovative Ideas for Sustainable Living’ organised by the Delhi-based TERI School of Advanced Studies (aka TERI University). The results of this seven-day competition (January 17-23) were announced on March 6. At an awards ceremony at the Swedish ambassadors residence in New Delhi, Krishi was conferred a trophy, certificate and cash prize of Rs.10,000 for inventing a herbal, eco-friendly and low-cost sanitary napkin for women.

An initiative of TERI in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden and the Delhi state governments department of environment, the challenge — designed to encourage lifestyle awareness and innovations contributing to environment sustainability — is open to youth of Delhi NCR in the 14-24 years age group. The challenge, successfully conducted in Sweden and Kenya prior to being introduced in India last November, drew participation from 1,330 students, of whom 30 were shortlisted for the first round and 11 for the final jury round.

The elder of two children of Anjali Dhar, a zoology professor at Jammu University, and Sunil Bhat, a corporate executive, and a class X student of Amity International School, Vasundhara, Krishi is elated about her achievement. “Since menstrual discomfort affects half the country’s population, I gave this project top priority. Encouraged by my mother and guided by my biology teacher Poonam Bhat, I successfully sourced organic cotton and biodegradable polythene to design a leak-proof sanitary napkin. I also identified anti-bacterial plants for insulating the pad against infections”, she says.

Currently focused on her class X board exams scheduled for next March, this precocious teen hopes to expand her green footprint nationwide. “Given the flood of low-cost napkins available in the market thanks to Indias Pad Man Arunachalam Muruganantham, I have set price reduction as my next goal for the benefit of rural women. I have also recently applied for a product patent together with my teacher”, enthuses Krishi.

Fair winds!

Autar Nehru (Delhi)