As India and rest of the world are fighting an unprecedented pandemic caused by the Covid-19, AquaKraft, a Mumbai based environmental services company, launched a unique Covid Response Innovation called ‘BEING SWACHH’, a combination of a Water Filtration & Dispensing Unit and a water positive hand washing station on 14th October.
A brainchild of “SwachhShree” Dr. Subramanya Kusnur, Founder Chairman & CEO of AquaKraft, SWACHH stands for Sanitation and Water for Community Health and Hygiene.
The company says that the technology adopted in BEING SWACHH is totally green with the filtration technology which is gravity fed, no wastage of water as backwash, with no sludge. Similarly, the Hand Washing which is foot pedal operated consumes far less water than a normal hand wash and treats the greywater post hand wash through green technology and recycles the water, making it water positive.
The first ‘BEING SWACHH’ installation and its AMC has been sponsored by RBL Bank as part of its CSR efforts, under its Covid Care initiatives. The installation, which was launched on 14 October 2020, will be operated and managed by TEE FOUNDATION.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Bharati Lavekar, President, TEE Foundation & MLA Versova assembly constituency said, “TEE Foundation has always been on the forefront to rise to address the challenges faced by the people and particularly, the needy & underprivileged. That is when Dr. Subramanya, whom I have known for a long time, approached me with this proposition, I readily agreed as it not only provides the most important elements of Drinking Water and Khadi Face masks at the most affordable prices along with hand wash needed to battle the pandemic but also creates the much-needed employment which is the need of the hour. This is in total alignment with our Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Shri Narendra Modiji’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. We are indeed privileged to launch BEING SWACHH and set a precedence for this unique social developmental model to be replicated not only in my constituency but across India.”
BEING SWACHH will be managed and operated by a Women SHG appointed by the TEE Foundation with Clean Drinking Water will be sold at the IRCTC rates of drinking water @ Re. 1/- per 300 ml, Rs 3/- per 500 ml & Rs. 5/- per 1 litre, where the consumer has to carry his / her own container. Clay bottles with a capacity of 500 ml & 1 litre along with Khadi Kavach – Khadi Face Masks- will be made available by TEE Foundation if the consumer wishes to buy.
Shanta Vallury Gandhi, Head – HR, CSR and Internal Branding, RBL Bank, said, “We are a socially responsible organisation. This initiative is in line with RBL Bank’s mission of ‘Community as The Cause’, and we are committed to support women empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, in every way possible during these challenging times. This installation has a multifold impact, as it will not only ensure the availability of hygienic water for consumption and handwashing by our fellow citizens but also provide employment to the SHG women managing the station.”
“It is our endeavor to create a nationwide network of SWACHH Infrastructure and in this regard, we invite progressive nonprofit organisations like TEE Foundation to partner with us and implement BEING SWACHH across the nation and contribute in battling the pandemic. We are very grateful to the progressive vision of Hon’ble MLA Dr. Bharati Lavekar and the socially conscious endeavor of RBL Bank, together with whom we have created this unique Covid Response Social Development Model to make INDIA SWACHH” said Dr. Subramanya Kusnur, Founder, AquaKraft Group.