Students of Odisha University of Technology and Research, Bhubaneswar emerge winners in seventh National Social Enterprise Idea Challenge  

Bangalore : Students of Odisha University of Technology and Research, Bhubaneshwar, emerged winners of the seventh edition of the National Level Social Enterprise Idea Challenge organized by Azim Premji University today.

In 2016, Azim Premji University launched the annual “Social Enterprise Idea Challenge” that brings students from across India to explore social entrepreneurship and share innovative social change ideas in a rigorous and competitive environment. The event also acts as a networking platform for young minds to meet each other, exchange thoughts and showcase their talent and skills to some of the early-stage mentors and funders.

Fifteen teams were shortlisted from close to a hundred entries from universities and colleges across the country for the final round. The submissions were broadly in the domains of education, livelihood, health, sustainability and governance.

First prize winning Team Members: Anup Paikaray, Akankhya Dhupal, Priyanka Senapati, Divyanshu

 Summary of the Idea:  “Chuliv” is the world’s first heat-powered air blower for mudstoves, reducing carbon emissions by 60% and improving stove performance by 40%. The automatic, non-electrical device absorbs excess heat, enhancing stove performance and contributing to tree preservation. It aligns with SDG 13, SDG 3, and SDG 7, promoting affordable, clean energy without significant changes to cooking methods.

 Second prize: Team Inaayat from Ramjas College, Delhi University

 Team Members: 1. Saniya Gupta, Pragun Kumar, Siya Rai

Summary of the Idea: Inaayat focuses on clean water, climate action, and decent livelihood by converting water hyacinths into handicraft products, promoting sustainable development goals and economic growth.

Third prize: Team WARAQ from Ramjas College, Delhi University

 Summary of the Idea: Project Waraq focuses on sustainability by manufacturing eco-friendly, durable disposable cutlery. The project, which started with a smaller customer base, focuses on waste management. Each item is expertly crafted and molded, with plant seeds inserted during production. The biodegradable items are easy to discard and promote plant growth.

Nazrul Haque, Mentor for the Social Enterprise Cell at Azim Premji University, noted: “It is heartening to see that young students are acutely aware of social issues and are deeply interested in finding solutions. A majority of the winners in the last six editions of the challenge have set up organisations that are contributing to social change. Many have succeeded in raising additional financial and mentoring support from incubators and leading organisations like IIT Kanpur, IIM Bangalore and YCombinator.”