Environment

The team's cry here at The Better India when they first touched a bamboo-blend sums up my feelings precisely - "This can't possibly be bamboo!"

What we love about this eco-friendly school? In summer, the students do not feel hot, thanks to an unceasing breeze. And in winter, the mud walls keep the students snug and warm without the use of sweaters or jackets!

Having installed six of these innovative 'inverted umbrellas,' the Guntakal railway station now has the capacity to store 60,000 litres of water used to not just clean the station, but also to recharge the groundwater table!

From 42 sq km in 2005, the mangrove forest cover has increased to 66sq km in 2017, all thanks to her continuous efforts to save the city's green soldiers!

Remarkably, her conservation efforts are driven by more than 200 local women, whom she calls the 'Hargila Army'.

"The bike we have developed does not require any service or charging stations. Once the bike runs out of battery it can be charged at home."

"Not just is it cost-effective and sustainable, it's like going back to our roots. For instance, using mud or clay as primary building material keeps the house cool, eliminating the need for ACs!"

The Better India had covered the story of Malhotras in 2015 and four years later, we are fortunate to cover the story of someone who was inspired by them!

"A single woman can generate up to 125 kg of non-biodegradable waste through her menstruating years. Just imagine the consequences. With this device, we want to do our part in altering this reality!"

Inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s principles of Natural Farming, Raghava decided to transform the coconut monoculture that he had inherited into a food forest without the use of any fertilisers, pesticides, cultivation or weeding.