Latest news with #Anandharamakrishnan
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
CSIR-NIIST develops technology for in situ disposal of biomedical waste
At a time when hospitals are struggling to get rid of biomedical waste, the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory here, has developed a technology for their in situ disposal in an ecofriendly and cost-effective way. Models meant for regular hospitals and one for the Military Hospital in the high-altitude Siachen glacier are currently undergoing tests, C. Anandharamakrishnan, Director, CSIR-NIIST, told The Hindu. The NIIST design, which is quite compact, is expected to boost the decentralised disposal of biomedical wastes, benefitting States such as Kerala where they are often transported over long distances to a couple of facilities for the purpose, Dr. Anandharamakrishnan said. The treated waste is expelled from the unit in the form of a powder which is useful as a soil additive, according to him. CSIR-NIIST is hoping that the model for the Military Hospital in Siachen can be commissioned by August 15 to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations this year. The unit undergoing tests for the Military Hospital in Siachen is capable of handling 10 kg at a time, and up to about 100 kg a day, Dr. Anandharamakrishnan said. Here, the real challenge was redesigning the original idea to suit the climatic conditions of Siachen, often dubbed the world's highest and coldest battlefield. 'It has to be a low-temperature operation there. The temperatures being extremely low, it is very difficult to manage biomedical waste. They cannot burn or bury it. In other locations, incinerators are at least possible. There they don't have that option. Even if the cabin housing the waste treatment is artificially heated, the temperatures still tend to be lower than what it is here,' he said. The 10 kg unit takes about half-an-hour to dispose of a single batch. Studies are also under way on another CSIR-NIIST prototype, which will prove useful to regular hospitals, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. 'The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change wanted units specifically for remote areas where the wastes are still burned or buried. We hope to complete the study in two months and hand over the report to the Ministry,' This biomedical waste conversion rig is capable of handling 100 kg per day. Given the misgivings biomedical waste treatment plants tend to arouse in the public, NIIST scientists have also taken the effort to make sure that their design is easy on the eye. The compact units resemble huge green capsicums. The waste is put in by opening the (automated) door provided at the side of the unit. The biomedical waste treatment technology is one among ten 'game-changing technologies' that the NIIST is currently working on.
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Steadfastly follow Atmanirbhar Bharat for strategic independence: NITI Aayog's VK Saraswat
Thiruvananthapuram: NITI Aayog member V. K. Saraswat on Wednesday underscored the imperative of achieving strategic independence in critical sectors to safeguard national sovereignty and drive technological leadership and innovation-led growth. He defined Atmanirbhar Bharat as the pursuit of independence from external controls. "We will achieve strategic autonomy, resilient supply chains, domestic innovation capacity, and technological sovereignty if we steadfastly follow the path of Atmanirbharta," said Saraswat. He said this while speaking at the CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), here, which was celebrating National Technology Day with a special event on IP Monetisation and Technology Transfer in connection with the institute's Golden Jubilee celebrations. He lauded the Indian scientific community's pivotal role in advancing self-reliance, citing its recent contributions to Operation Sindoor as a testament to India's growing capabilities. "Alongside the armed forces, the nation's scientists have been instrumental in bringing global recognition and pride to India. There is a need to shift India's Intellectual Property landscape from 'portfolio to performance'," said Saraswat. Director of CSIR-NIIST, Anandharamakrishnan, highlighted the importance of the technologies developed by CSIR-NIIST, emphasising their relevance in addressing pressing societal and industrial needs, including applications in strategic sectors. "Ten game-changing technologies for nation building from CSIR-NIIST were also presented, with a commitment to deliver by 2027. CSIR-NIIST remains dedicated to creating solutions that matter - scientifically strong, industrially relevant, and socially impactful," said the director. At the event, there was the formal transfer of five technologies developed by CSIR-NIIST. These technologies were handed over by Anandharamakrishnan as each transfer represented a step toward real-world application and social impact. Technologies related to fruit roll-ups, jackfruit-based products, millet-based instant mixes, natural syrups, and banana grits were transferred to H. Dineshan, IAS, Executive Director of the Kudumbashree State Mission, Kerala. Another transfer that was effected was the engineered microbiome technology, JAIVAM, designed for rapid aerobic composting of organic waste. This conclave reflected the institute's legacy of innovation and its resolve to deliver science that transforms lives.
