Union Minister of State Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has inaugurated an artificial intelligence (AI) focused start-up, Swajal Water Private Limited to supply clean drinking water at a price cheaper than the market price. The start-up is founded by IIT alumni, for water purification.
An MoU has been signed between the Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and M/s Swajal Water Private Limited.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that the ministry is willing to encourage any start-ups that can serve society in a better way. To achieve India’s ambitious target of providing clean drinking water to all by 2024, the minister asked Dr Vibha Tripathi, CEO and Co-Founder of Swajal to scale up this technology. He urged the private sector to promote the venture to take clean drinking water to nearly 14 crore households. He also asked the sector to encourage AI-focused innovative potential start-ups.
Dr Srivari Chandrashekhar, DST Secretary and TDB Chairperson said that this project is a combination of advanced technologies, such as IOT and AI combined with renewable solar energy to cater for the need for pure drinking water in villages and remote areas.
Rajesh Kr. Pathak, IP&TAFS, Secretary, TDB, said that Swajal will empower communities to plan and monitor their drinking water needs with community ownership, and will get affordable, accessible, reliable and clean drinking water 24×7 throughout the year.