Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Ajay Kumar Choubey has developed a technique to convert farm waste into smokeless coal, while Uttaran Nayak, another young scientist, has created digital employees capable of running businesses.

Moreover, Virag Bohare has applied his scientific expertise to design a machine which can produce sanitary napkins at a very low cost.

On the eve of the National Science Day, Free Press talked with the three young scientists and innovators from the city, whose work touches the life of the common man and benefits society at large. The theme of the Day is ‘Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat’ this year.

Smokeless coal from farm waste

Ajay Kumar Choubey, a researcher and an academician, has developed a manually operated briquetting machine which converts agricultural and biomass waste into high-calorific briquettes thus preventing air pollution.

These briquettes can be used as an alternative to conventional fuels like coal and wood. The machine uses agricultural residues and organic waste as raw material and prevents their open burning. Using biomass-based briquettes helps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels. “I got funding of Rs five lakh from the Ministry of Education for smokeless coal machine….I am founder of E-skill Bharat and used to train faculty members and college students. I am also a mentor of IIT Bombay’s e Cell of MP.”

Hyper-intelligent digital employees

Uttaran Nayak is co-founder and CEO of startup Alchemyst AI. Alchemysts are hyper intelligent generative AI digital employees backed by own AI infrastructure that can talk and interact with each other to automate entire workflows across mid-sized to large enterprises. The startup raised its first major institutional funding of around Rs 2.5 crore & became a multi-million dollar startup. He received Student Entrepreneur of the Year award 2024 at Bharat Mandapam and was also winner of ET Unstoppable Leader of India Award twice. “Besides India, I provide my services to US , UK and Gulf countries. “I am a civil engineering graduate from MANIT, but I had interest in AI so chose this field.”

Making sanitary napkins affordable

Virag Bohare is the co-founder of Rag Innovations which has come out with low cost sanitary napkin making machines. His firm has been recognised by Central government as a Number 1 Startup in Central India. It aims to provide sustainable livelihood, improve hygiene and promote eco-friendliness among under-privileged women and adolescent girls. Rag innovations has perfected the technique for installation of sanitary napkin making machines at very low cost.

Virag startup has a turnover of Rs 1.50cr last year. “Over the past 10 years, 80,000 rural women, girls have benefitted from our innovation. We have 180-plus units in more than 20-plus states in India and more than 10 international units”