Students of a government school in Belgaum were drinking water from a water tank full of dust and algae. The tank had not been cleaned for at least five months and was the only source of drinking water for the students. Lack of clean drinking water was something they had always faced and made peace with it.
Frequent diseases, infections, rashes, dizziness were a common scenario as the students kept drinking the contaminated water.
One day, Niranjan Karagi, a 22-year-old engineering student went to the school playground to play football and observed students drinking the filthy water. Deeply impacted by the condition, he and his friends decided to buy a filter for the school. However, it was costly and a “bunch of college-goers” could not afford it.
This is when Niranjan thought to create an affordable, effective and portable water filter. Soon, he saw a student using an old PET bottle to drink water and that’s when the idea struck him.
“A large number of people use plastic bottles to carry water. Not just students, but even adults can be seen carrying such bottles. I thought it’d be great if a filter could be attached to the bottle itself,” Niranjan says.
Four exacting months and eight prototypes later, NirNal, a low-cost water purifier was born in August 2016.
Portable, Safe and Costs Just Rs 20
NirNal consists of a membrane, activated carbon, cotton and netted mesh that purify the water in multiple stages. The filter can block dust particles and bacterias and makes it safe to use.
The pocket-sized filter can be used by just fitting into a disposable bottle and can filter upto 100 litres of water. It reportedly purifies water by up to 70 percent, making it potable.
Niranjan explains the use of NirNal in just three simple steps:
- Fill the bottle with Water
- Insert NirNal
- Squeeze the bottle and drink
“The main idea behind is was to make it fit into a plastic bottle because almost everyone has access to that. This way we are able to use the discarded plastic bottles also,” Niranjan says.
The filter costs just Rs 20 and is a great resource in areas with poor water quality. The filter can be used by children above five years of age.
Global scale and impact
It was an uphill journey for Niranjan in the beginning. People didn’t trust his innovation. Also, there were many big companies already in the business and it was difficult to compete with them. Niranjan went from one school to another and gave numerous demos to make people believe that NirNal actually works.
He also approached Leaders Accelerating Development (LEAD) Program of Deshpande Foundation. The LEAD team then helped him come up with a more sustainable design. They also gave him an initial fund to develop his product further and connected him with the right people.
LEAD program, which works towards fostering empathetic, innovative entrepreneurial thinking towards sustainable social change, helped Niranjan to push the envelope further.
Niranjan had created the first prototype using only materials available in his own house. LEAD gave him some financial support to develop his product further. He added more money from his own pocket and came up with the final version of NirNal. There was no looking back after that.
Till February 2017, Niranjan had already sold over 15,000 filters in different schools, villages and even military. He has also received bulk orders from Africa, Singapore and Qatar.
Since people are reusing the plastic bottles instead of throwing it, the pollution in those areas has decreased to some extent. Also, he claims earlier many students would fall sick frequently due to unclean water, this frequency of falling sick due to water-related issues have decreased.
“It is also good for people in urban settings where they keep buying mineral water. After using this filter, they can just refill water from anywhere and save money,” says Niranjan.
Niranjan has employed three women in his village and have taught them the manufacturing process. They take up the orders, and he pays them.
Where can you buy it and what next?
NirNal, which is approved by the food divisional officer of Karnataka can be purchased by contacting Niranjan and placing an order. The device was sent to government certified labs in Belagavi for chemical and bacteriological analysis. It passed the test and Niranjan officially registered it with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Belagavi.
Niranjan is currently full time working on improving his innovation. He wants to reach out to the Karnataka government so that the product can be distributed on a large scale. He is also in conversation with various schools and institutions to reach more children.
In addition to this, Niranjan is also working on another innovation of Hydrogen Welding, which takes water as an intake and generates hydrogen, which can be used for welding. The left out oxygen is stored in another container and can be used to supply to the hospitals.
“There are so many problems in the society, but young people can solve them. We have so many good resources and opportunities, which were not available earlier. We can use these solutions to come up with amazing solutions and create a better society,” concludes Niranjan.
Photos: Niranjan Karagi
This story is a result of a month-long on the ground effort in documenting stories from North Karnataka, which has been made possible by Deshpande Foundation, a Hubli based organisation that aims to create a nurturing environment for grassroots innovations and social entrepreneurship.
The Stories of Change in collaboration with Deshpande Foundation will be coming out with more such amazing stories from the ground.
Don’t forget to check out Development Dialogues, an international social entrepreneurship ecosystem conference hosted at Hubali, Karnataka by Deshpande Foundation. This annual conference brings together over 400 delegates, 200 organizations, 200 startups and 1,000 university students to connect and collaborate over important issues of common interest. Register for the event here.
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I like to buy NirNal. Let me know the source of awailability.
Dear Manepalli,
Thank you for your interest in NirNal. You can contact Niranjan Karagi, founder of NirNal here- 7795339714
We wish to buy the purifier which can be used in our Industry. Kindly let me know Minimum quantity for ordering, and contact number and Bank details to transfer the same.
please share the contact details. Unable to contact with the above number. My 9441947631
Thank you for getting in touch. Niranjan’s number is the same as mentioned. I will share your number with him and he will get in touch with you.
Hi, please try this number- 8884660444
visit their website for more details- http://www.nirnal.in
I am Roopnath from andhrapradesh,vijayawad.I like this and I want to buy this.where are availbile. my contact no is 9299991404.
Hi Roopnath,
Thank you for your interest in NirNal. You can contact Niranjan Karagi, founder of NirNal here- 7795339714
above given number is not connecting, if there is another number plz give me or give me any shop address in belgaum were the filters are available.
Hi, I spoke to him just now. His number is working now. I have also asked him to get in touch with you.
not connecting give me any shop address in belgaum were the filters are available.
You can buy them at their office. Address is-
M/s Nirnal Water Filter, SandBox- IMER College, Adarsh Nagar, Hindwadi, Belgaum-11 customer care number: 8884660444
Hi,
Where we can buy in Tumkur or Bangalore, can you provide the details.
Hi Nagendra, You can contact Niranjan here- 7795339714.
For tumkar or Bangalore u can contact here – 7795615084
Extremely useful information.
I am Ashish Patel from Maharashtra,Amravati. I like this and I want to buy this.where are availbile. my contact no is 7387143127.
Dear Ashish,
You can call Niranjan, founder of NirNal at 7795339714 and place an order.
Thanks!
Dear Shraya ji,
this is Jaffar Hussain from KADAPA , Andhra Pradesh,
it will use full for water which now a days everyone using that from Mineral water plants all over which doesnt have any minerals in this water.
how it will use full for this water
Hi
I am Vijay from Hyderabad can we get this filter in Hyderabad.
Hi Vijay, You can place an order here- http://nirnal.in/order-now.php
good product can i get this in vashi navi mumbai
Hi,
You can place an order here- http://nirnal.in/order-now.php
Or call Nirnajan at- 888-466-0444
If it is genuine news, I want to distribute the item in schools and colleges free of cost to some extent with my own expenditure. So give me the full details in pdf format to my email address
gsenglishsuryapet@gmail.com
Now a days , we are facing fake news many. So I am unable to believe.
Thank you for this information.
G.S from Telangana state
Thank you for reaching out. The product is genuine. Will send you an email with more details.
please send me the details on careerheightsdehradun@gmail.com
Hi this mahaveer from bikaner rajasthan. I have just watched your video from whatsapp. This is amazing product. Can u tell me more details of the product.
Thanks
Hi Mr Mahaveer
You can contact niranjan at- 888-466-0444
or check out his website- nirnal.in for more details
You can place orders here- http://nirnal.in/order-now.php
I wanted to buy this filter in large scale for maharashtra distribution.
Thanks for the founder of Nirnal. I would like to buy in good quantity. How to procure? Pl let me know.
Heartiest congrats to Niranjan for inventing this unique water filter.Will this device filter out chemicals like arsenic,fluoride etc?
I am interested in this product but unable to contact please call 7020508423. Where can I get this product in Navi Mumbai
Please try this number- 888-466-0444
or check out their website- http://nirnal.in/order-now.php
I am subramanya from kollegal. I pay sbi account 500/rs to atm cash point. Plus send water filter.
9738085020
I filled order form & sent number of times .but no reply from nirnal.
i want 10 pcs.