PAANI

CATEGORY: Water

PAANI

Log in or register to follow or vote for this project.

PAANI introduces an affordable arsenic removal filter to provide arsenic free,pure drinking water to the bottom of the pyramid rural people of Bangladesh who do not have access to any other safe water sources.

Standings & Awards

1313 out of 1313 in Asia
69 out of 69 in Water
573 out of 573 in Pilot
1066 out of 1066 in Blended
4003 out of 4003 Overall

0

VOTES

PAANI

PAANI saves arsenicosis patients,protects people from arsenic poisoning & changes an affected community's fate

THE GLOBAL THREAT: ARSNIC- the silent killer, threatens 137 million people in 70 countries. Arsenic not only kills but also destroys the whole community like an atomic bluster. It reduces the quality of lives (the living people) from all aspects – physiological, psychological, social & economic. The circle of arsenic destroys the normal lifestyle of people and once a community falls prey to it, getting out of this circle becomes quite impossible for them by their own efforts.
Thus, the poor are the most vulnerable to this poisoning.

THE URGENT NEED: BANGLADESH has become the most vulnerable place concerning arsenic pollution. What is happening in Bangladesh is a unique horror. World Health Organization (WHO) calls the situation “the largest poisoning of a population in history.” About 77 million (50% of total population) people are
exposed to arsenic through drinking water. Of these 77 million people 42% belong to the bottom of the pyramid. These people are the worst victims of this poison. Owing to the slow poisoning very few people realizes the significance of the problem. Besides, these people are too underprivileged to think about pure water. Thus, merely an arsenic removal device cannot solve the problem. These people need a sustainable and affordable solution as well as an integrated program to motivate and keep them under regular monitoring.

BUSINESS IDEA: PAANI - THE INTEGRATED SOLUTION
PAANI offers an integrated solution, which is sustainable and affordable. It plans to provide arsenic free pure drinking water to the poor villagers filtered through Sono filter, a low cost arsenic removal filter produced by PAANI. To serve a large population in a cost effective way the business model will use a community based distribution channel forming small community clusters and employing local women, PAANI-Sisters as its representative to supervise and sell filters in those clusters.

SOCIAL MISSION:
Reviving and protecting an ailing community
Reducing infant mortality and school drop out, directly caused by arsenic poisioning
Empowering women through employment opportunity

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation?

Going beyond the conventional boundaries of existing filtering devices, PAANI introduces four critical factors of value innovation. a) Eliminating burden of purchasing filters, which is unaffordable for the poor b) Ensuring affordability by NOT selling the filtering device, but charging ONLY for purifying water c) Recycling the filters and using the recycled materials for production in a safe way d) Building a network of rural women and giving them the responsibility to be changemakers

2. Who gains the most?

The existing arsenicosis patients who are gradually heading towards fatal diseases gains the most from PAANI. There is no direct treatment of arsenicosis and drinking arsenic free water is a must for the patients. But people who do not have access to any arsenic free water sources, specially in the extremely arsenic affected regions, they become completely vulnerable to fatality. PAANI saves them from premature death.

3. Who pays?

As most of our target customers are extremely poverty stricken with an average daily income of below $1. These people live hand to mouth and usually unable to pay any big amount at a time. So it is hardly possible to afford the cost of a filter by them. Hence, PAANI will charge a significant low amount for this holistic solution [.057 cents/liter]. The bill ($1.29/month for a 5 member family) will be collected by PAANI sisters on a monthly basis.

4. What is your success?

Year 1: Each family using the filter saves 80% of its medical cost due to arsenicosis. Drinking safe water improves their health condition as well. Year 3: People who are likely to be affected soon get benefited by using filters, which results in 40% increase in productivity. Year 5: 50,000 women will be employed as PAANI sisters. School drop out rate in primary level is reduced by 30%. Families who have been using filters for 5 years will get complete protection from arsenicosis.

5. How will you do it?

PAANI tank will provide safe water at an affordable price. Besides, PAANI will educate the people and eradicate the misconception through active involvement of the community in business model. The business introduces rural unemployed women as changemakers, named PAANI sisters. They will be in charge of the PAANI tanks and spread the message of PAANI in the community. They will connect PAANI with the community and by working together, arsenic problem will come to an end.