Winners of IDM 2007

Sustaining Human And Nature In The Sundarbans, West Bengal

An innovative method of rain-fed agriculture that propagates folk rice varieties, eliminating the use of expensive chemical pesticides and fertilizers, as well as their related labour costs. It is planned to organize women to process, package and market the organically grown rice at the local level itself.

Institutionalizing Community Led Action For Sanitary Survey By Reward Scheme, Uttar Pradesh

Setting up social incentives for undertaking water quality monitoring and surveillance of all the water sources by promoting a spirit of competition among Gram Panchayats.

Solar Concentrating Cooker: For Cooking And Extraction Of Cashew Nut Shell Oil, Maharashtra

The proposal utilizes all parts of the cashew nut, including the husk that was earlier thrown away. Women, who traditionally process the cashew nuts, will be trained to extract Cashew Nut Shell Oil from the husk in an environment-friendly manner by replacing old wood stoves with widely available solar cookers. In the process they will earn extra income and save their environment fro the noxious fumes during extraction.     

Growing Citronella To Reduce Predation by Deer and Wild Boar Around Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra

Aromatic grasses, especially citronella, will be grown in villages surrounding protected forests as deer do not graze on them as they do on traditional crops such as paddy. Citronella oil extracted locally will earn farmers good income, and the bagasse remaining after the oil is extracted will provide good fodder for local cattle.

Cleaning Himalayan Foothills Through  Comprehensive Solid Waste Disposal And Entrepreneurship in Uttarakhand

In Rishikesh, special daily-cleaning projects to clean ravines, roadsides etc. littered with garbage will help clean areas not dealt with by the municipality. Door-to-door waste collection, waste segregation, recycling, safe treatment of non-recyclables, and vermi-composting organic wastes will be promoted.

Sustainable Drinking Water Supply In Fluoride Contaminated Zones of Rajasthan

The project will study the different causes leading to groundwater contamination with fluoride in the various regions of Rajasthan. It will reduce their dependency on ground water by harvesting alternative sources of water such as rain water, and enhance the immune system of the local population against the effects of fluorosis.

Simple Single Axis Rooftop Wind Generator, Orissa

A simplified, light-weight, vertical windmill will generate renewable rooftop power for households in Orissa.         

Preparing Rural Women To Produce And Market Cashew Apple Juice

Rural women who are dependant on the collection and sale of cashew nuts throw away the ‘cashew apple’ - the fruit from which the nut is extracted. These women will be provided with knowledge and technical skills to make the best use of the so called “useless” raw material, extract its juice, and market it commercially earning them additional income.

Wetland Utilization Through Organic Farming For Vegetable Production, Manipur

The proposal will restore rapidly degrading wetlands by encouraging the cultivation of water mimosa or 'ekai thabi' (Neptunea olecerea) through sustainable means. The vegetable is readily marketable, has long been believed to have high medicinal value, and will encourage growers to keep the wetlands free of garbage and encroachments.

Promotion Of Innovative And Sustainable Irrigation Solution (Managed By Women), Gujarat

In the parched Kutchh region of Gujarat, monsoon rain water will be drained and trapped underground through simple low-cost pipes. During the long dry season, this water will be pumped up through diesel engines. 

Human Power Based Lighting Solution For Nomadic And Tribal People, Maharashtra

Mono-wheel gensets, attached to a stationary bicycle, will generate power in tribal villages.

Removal Of Heavy Metals Using Tea Waste

Tea-waste plants can be built to remove different concentrations of heavy metals in industrial effluents.

Ecosphere In The Market- Makes Eco-Livelihoods Sustainable

Using Neem and Pongamia Soaps as effective bio-pesticides for growing vegetables

The proposal will popularize the use of Neem and Pongamia Soaps – which are more effective bio – pesticides than just Neem and Pongamia oil.

Through Utilization of  Neem Based Technology For Natural Resource

Reduction of Excessive Fluoride From Potable Water, Uttar Pradesh

The proposal will use bio-membranes to filter fluoride from water. Easily replaceable filters will be propagated in villages in Agra district where the fluoride content of groundwater is high, leading to severe dental and skeletal diseases.   The idea was tested initially with various biological membranes; of these, the inner peel of the onion membrane showed encouraging results as it filtered out 50-60% of the fluoride.

Demonstration And Performance Evaluation Of Solar Tunnel Drying System

Pilot Project- Decentralised Wastewater Treatment For Small And Medium Towns

Promotion Of Eco-Friendly Bamboo Based Low Cost Household Biogas Plant

Communities Initiatives For Conservation Of Biodiversity Resources in Sikkim

The proposal seeks to convert wildlife poachers to conservationists in bio-diversity rich Sikkim. The region’s unique biodiversity is threatened by unregulated grazing, unplanned trekking tourism, hunting and trapping.     With legal powers for conservation being delegated to local communities for the first time, the project will carry out capacity building to empower communities and local institutions entrusted with the co-management of forests.