Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first indigenous Automated Biomedical Waste Treatment Rig, named Sṛjanam, at AIIMS New Delhi, yesterday.

Developed by the CSIR National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, NIIST, in Thiruvananthapuram, the rig is the first of its kind in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister called for a paradigm shift from Waste to Wealth and emphasized the importance of sustainability and environmental concerns.

Dr. Singh highlighted India’s economic transformation, noting that the country has moved from being part of the ‘fragile five’ to a member of the ‘First Five’ and is on track for continued growth. He also highlighted the significance of the new biomedical waste treatment rig, which is set to revolutionize waste management in healthcare facilities.

The Sṛjanam rig is designed to disinfect pathogenic biomedical waste, including blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables, without relying on costly and energy-intensive incinerators. Notably, the rig also neutralizes foul odors, imparting a pleasant fragrance to otherwise toxic waste. With a daily capacity of 400 kg, the equipment is capable of handling 10 kg of degradable medical waste per day in the initial phase.