Imagine a scenario that entails convenient disposal of sanitary waste produced on a monthly basis. It almost sounds magical, since such mechanised convenience is something that has remained out of bounds even with the advent of machines during past or current centuries for the common people. Such is the product named Dahini, which encourages a practise as simple as taking care of your own waste that is out to create a great impact on basic sanitation and health of the nation. It is also capable of eradicating the water and soil pollution to a great extent.

In sync with the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations, towards 2030, waste disposal has for called a number of innovations amongst budding social entrepreneurs during current times. Sayali, a young entrepreneur, took up this challenge too and started clearing the unnecessary medical and other kinds of waste, produced on a daily basis. This becomes a boon especially during COVID times. This is how Dahini appeared on the anvil.

The co-founders, Sayali Ponkshe and Ravindra Gadre believed in 100% user friendly ways to erase waste that can bring about improved health and better sanitation in no time. With the use of technologically advanced equipments, the company Green EarthEquipmentwas all set to explore all the facets of Dahini, their flagship product that would work wonders in all times to come. “Covid19 has rather opened up new opportunities for the company since a lot of waste is getting generated everyday and its the need of the hour for Dahini to serve various sectors for the waste disposal,” says Sayali Ponkshe.

^{Dahini Disposer proudly displays Make in India stamp}

Dahini became the company’s first project to responsibly handle and dispose sanitary and diaper waste in the most appropriate and scientific way. The models were scaled up to the waste typesthat are needed to be addressed. This is how each model of Dahini was customised as per the nature and load of the product type. Dahini is now a foremost disposing product that has become a unique decentralized solution to handle a woman’s waste. Economical pricing keeps the product Dahini within buyer’s reach and convenient to avail.

Dahini has been successfully installed at more than 50 locations within a span of less than a year, doing successful disposals of waste effectively, in no time. A memorable instance of Dahini’s success is where the units were installed at the top of Raigad district fort, where sanitation and hygiene requirements were crucial. A lot of visitors who visit this place find it very convenient and are genuinely relieved to find such devices at such heights.  Al ot of ladies face the issues of lack of proper sanitation and feel helpless in such situations. This is how Dahini is serving as a remarkable facility.

Even individual customers like to have Dahini installed in their homes. Dahini is a product designed to dispose of infectious and used masks along with all sanitary waste in the most scientific, effective and sustainable way. Sulekha Mhatre has been a happy customer to deploy the unit for both her monthly disposals as well as her child’s diapers daily. “The unit was easy to use and did not even take much time for installation,” sheaddedhappily. Yet another instance of Dahini’s usage is at the school at the outskirts of Rajgurunagar village, in the state of Maharashtra, where there was zero access for waste disposal mechanism. Dahini proved to be not just a relief to the girls but also provided a sustainable way to dispose the waste.

^{Dahini machine disposal prohibits infected waste to get mixed with normal waste}

Keeping the competitive zeal alive, the makers of Dahini have passed majority of similar products in the market through their eyes. However, it has been noticed that these similar products apparently fail to provide safety and durability standards as Dahini does. The life of similar machines is not more than a year as the metallic chambers get oxidized and degrades rapidly. The heaters provided are also of a lower quality. Dahini provides a shock and electric leak proof design with one year of manufacturing warranty. The internal burning chamber's life is also more than 10 years. Dahini follows all the Central Pollution Control Board guidelines with an authentic certification carried out by a CPCB approved laboratory. Keeping in tandem with its growth path, the company will remain dedicated for continuous innovation and development. This way, the makers would ensure that Dahini would always have a cutting edge towards its competitors.

During current times where the pandemic Covid19 strikes a novel situation of having to dispose masks and Personal Protective Equipment kits (PPE kits) almost on a daily basis, Dahini has set new standards for the public at large. Covid19 has opened up new opportunities for the company since a lot of waste is getting generated everyday and the need of the hour for Dahinis to serve various sectors for the waste disposal. Disposing of used masks is as important as the treatment against the infection as both the cases risks towards spread of the infection.  As per statistics, sanitary waste takes upto 500 years to disintegrate. Until then, the viral infections are at large and can create a deadly comeback any time through water bodies or landfills. This is the reason why disposing this waste becomes extremely crucial and that is the problem that Dahini promises to solve.

^{Dahini Mask disposal machine is proudly used by Police Depart at Pune}

Happy with the team’s compassionate innovation carried out towards the welfare of many, Green Earth Equipment has sustained its product variations and upscaled its capacity by collaborating with like-minded avenues. The impressive clientele includes several government organisations apart from international MNCs. Currently, Pune's city police stations are readily equipped with Dahini units to install the solution that are helping in containing the spread of infection on multiple levels.These organisations vouched for the products’ prevention of land pollution in a major way.

Dahini is the first project where the organisation provides solutions to the problems of sanitary waste including used diapers and condoms. In the current Covid19 pandemic situation, they also provide solutions to the infectious masks, gloves and all the PPE kits waste disposal. Additionally, Dahini is conducive to prevention of water pollution too. Moreover, negligible cost of disposal is an added advantage. The best advantage however, is the maintenance of dignity of waste-pickers who do not have to deal with ugliness day in and day out. Eventually, fulfilling the company’s vision of Dahini’s contribution towards a zero-waste nation.

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Impact-Story is a series on development and CSR interventions leading to some impacts on the ground. If you have a project, innovation or intervention that has changed the lives of a few people or a community, please share a brief note at shilpi@csrbox.org. Our Team will get back to you after validating the information for a detailed coverage.