K'pong pupils distribute sanitiser machines they themselves developed

SNS, DARJEELING, 6, June 21 : An automatic sanitiser dispenser (with sensors) developed by 21 -year-old Azel Karthak is being distributed free of cost by a social organisation at important places in Darjeeling town.

The distribution is being done since 1 June by a Kalimpong based organization, Samarthan, consisting mostly of college students and some from schools.

"The idea to invent this came from the realisation that we need such a thing at important places where people frequent. Such plastic devices available in the market are expensive, costing about Rs 5000. However, the one I have is made of the easily available bamboo, used soft drink bottles and ferry light wires, due t o which recycling is also being done," said Mr Karthak, who is a part of the group.

A fourth semester student in the Siliguri Institute of Technology, Mr Karthak maintained that he wanted to use his knowledge in trying to help people. The formation of Samarthan on September 2020 also has an equally interesting story.

"We started with five members, but we have grown to 45 now. Due to the lockdown, we were all at home and we thought that instead of just sitting around why do we not help people badly affected by the pandemic? That is how it all started," said Yoel Sunam, the president of Samarthan.

After their formation, they have been providing free food stuff to people in need and now since June they have already made 20 such dispensers and distributed it to police stations, municipality and other places in Kalimpong. They have started distributing them in Darjeeling only recently.

"It takes 6 to 7 people to make 5 to 6 such hand dispensers in a day, but due to funds crunch we have not been able to make many. Although made of recycled things it costs around 1,300 to assemble one. We are trying to make it more cost efficient and also trying to find sponsors," said Mr Karthak, adding that his team members have also learnt how to make it and are helping out.

On the other hand, Mr. Sunam said, "In the initial stages, we pooled our own money and made these dispensers, but we now need sponsors as we are targeting around 300 of them, so that we can give them to health centres that we have identified in the hills. We are also ready to write the sponsor's name in the device when we hand them out."