Empowering Innovations: From Academia to Real-World Solutions

At the Karnataka Water and Sanitation Sustainability Summit, social entrepreneur Shilpa K Nayana's innovative water filtration project, Jalam, secured a Rs 25 lakh grant. Developed initially in response to Kerala's 2018 floods, Jalam uses low-cost nanotechnology to purify water. Multiple startups were recognized at the summit for their water management innovations.

In a remarkable display of innovation and determination, Shilpa K Nayana, a 29-year-old social entrepreneur originally from Kozhikode, Kerala, emerged as one of the winners at the Karnataka Water and Sanitation Sustainability Summit in Bengaluru. Her project, Jalam, which utilizes low-cost nanotechnology for water purification, was one of six to receive a Rs 25 lakh grant.

Nayana's journey began six years ago during her final year of biotechnology studies in Thiruvananthapuram, when she envisioned the project to tackle water contamination following the 2018 floods. Her university's willingness to fund her ideas allowed her to transform theoretical concepts into practical solutions.

The summit, hosted by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, acknowledged over a hundred participants. Minister Priyank Kharge highlighted the importance of collaborative innovation beyond government limits, signaling the potential for these technologies to impact water management systems on a national level.

(With inputs from agencies.)