By Dr.Ramkumar K R, Professor Research, Departmet of Computer Science and AI, Chitkara Universiy, Punjab
Stubble burning by the farmers has been the cause of concern for the people of Punjab and Haryana. Now the need of the hour is to curate pedagogy that can convert the agriculture waste into come usable by-products.
Dr. Ramkumar and his team are also working on an innovative solution to address the burning of rice and wheat stubbles by converting them into biodegradable sanitary napkins. This approach not only helps reduce the environmental impact of stubble burning, which contributes significantly to air pollution (with over 35 million tons of stubble burned annually in India), but also provides a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic-based sanitary products. The biodegradable napkins made from agricultural waste are eco-friendly, reducing plastic waste that takes hundreds of years to decompose.
Additionally, this solution can offer a cost-effective, locally sourced alternative to conventional sanitary products, making them more affordable for women in rural areas. By tapping into agricultural waste, this initiative creates new avenues for waste management, promotes sustainability, and supports women’s health and hygiene with a greener, safer option. Along with this, the method of manufacturing these napkins will reduce the cost effective as it would reduce the cost of the sanitary pads, thus making it more affordable and pocket friendly.
