‘TOUCH- FREE HANDWASH UNIT’: CHENNAI USES A NEW INNOVATION TO ENSURE SAFETY WHILE WASHING YOUR HANDS!

It is important to inculcate safe practices of washing hands in public places during the pandemic. Keeping this in view, project Sugadharam, an initiative by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)- Young Indians, RCC Diva Foundation and the Greater Chennai Corporation, was introduced. 

A ‘touch- free handwash unit’ has been installed in five places in the city which includes Gummidipoondi market, Thiruvanmiyur market and a few police offices. The handwash unit is simple to use. You can generate soap solution and water using your left and right feet and wash your hands without touching the wash basin. This helps in avoiding contact and resort to good prevention measures. The tank needs to be replenished on a daily basis. The government and local authorities are helping in ensuring that the tanks are replenished every day.

“We were brainstorming ideas to help out the public during the pandemic, when we realized that handwashing is soon going to be the new norm. But installing a wash basin in a public place alone was not going to be enough,” Vishal Mehta, chair, Young Indians Chennai Chapter told The Hindu. 

After days of ideation, ‘a touch- free handwash project’ was conceptualized. “We wanted people to wash their hands while accessing public places, but not touch the tap or sanitizer lever. We mulled over a sensor-based model but the cost it would incur was on the higher side.”

The team aims are installing around 50 units by the end of this month and produce around 150 units over the next few months. These units will be placed in various public places in the city.