On Monday, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated the "Srjanam" biomedical waste conversion rig at AIIMS, New Delhi, representing a prominent advancement in biomedical waste management. Srjanam, a waste management system, has been developed by CSIR-NIIST in Thiruvananthapuram.

A Union Minister's Office statement said, "It offers a cost-effective, greener alternative to existing technologies for biomedical waste disposal, including incineration ".

Without relying on expensive and energy-intensive incinerators, the fully automated system breaks down and neutralises hazardous biomedical waste, including blood, urine, sputum, and laboratory disposables. This makes waste disposal more efficient, cost-effective and convenient.

As per the statement, "One of Srjanam's unique features is its ability to impart a pleasant fragrance to otherwise foul-smelling toxic waste, making its handling and disposal safer and more manageable ".

The capacity of this waste system is 400 kg per day; the statement said, "the initial phases can currently accommodate up to 10 kg/day of degradable medical waste. The technology was successfully validated for its antimicrobial acts and non-toxic nature and would be ready for implementation soon with the go-ahead from the concerned authorities."

The Union Minister also highlighted the importance of innovation in tackling environmental challenges.

 "This development marks a key milestone towards sustainable waste management in healthcare. Srjanam promises a low-cost solution that is scalable and could be adopted by healthcare institutions across the country," he stated.

The director of CSIR-NIIST also emphasised the effectiveness of this solution for managing biomedical waste.

Director of CSIR-NIIST Dr C Anandharamakrishnan said, "Hence, it provides the potential for a very safe, efficient solution to biomedical waste management ". He further said, "Safe and efficient management reduces the risk to healthcare workers and the chances of spreading infectious diseases ".

NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul also expressed his enthusiasm about this initiative. He said, "The Srjanam technology is a huge leap towards allowing safe and sustainable management of biomedical waste. It tends to lessen the environmental burden significantly while increasing safety for health workers and citizens ".

Dr M Srinivas, The Director of AIIMS, said, "It speaks volumes about the scientific collaborative strength in addressing the problem of biomedical waste disposal. It also shows the commitment of AIIMS, New Delhi, in adopting things that are beneficial for both healthcare and the environment."

Through Srjanam, public health and environmental protection can become achievable realities by eliminating the issues related to the management of demos for illegal biomedical waste dumping statewide.