Amidst the widespread COVID 19 crisis worldwide, Simar Sharma, a 3rd year Biotechnology student from Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) at MAHE has brought about a ray of hope to the underprivileged. Simar has prepared and distributed hand sanitisers to daily wage workers, vegetable/ fish vendors, quarantine homes and people living in slums who do not have access to proper hygiene and cannot afford to buy expensive sanitisers.
While under the confines of a lockdown, Simar realised the gravity of the situation during these unprecedented times. She decided to make her contribution and came up with a simple yet practical solution of producing hand sanitisers at home using a combination of Iso-Propyl Alcohol, Glycerol, Essential Oils and water. She has successfully made 150 bottles at home while adhering to the safety standards set by WHO. The sanitisers are 80% alcohol-based and have been prepared with utmost care and precaution.
Sharing insights on her endeavour Simar said, “With constant support from my professors and friends who helped me in gathering all the required materials, I managed to achieve the task. In fact, donations from across various parts of the country are pouring in and that has motivated me to produce three more batches of sanitisers, which would be approximately 600 litres. I have collaborated with the police to distribute these in marketplaces and slums where this is needed the most and with the help of donations, I have already ordered chemicals and bottles for my second batch..”
She further added, “My friends, who believe in me have contributed their pocket money to this noble cause through digital payment modes. To scale up, when I collect money from society, I become accountable to the money collected. I must bring enough confidence in them that the money collected is being utilised for the cause and there is transparency. Apart from undergoing regular classes online, I am trying to use my classroom learning and available free time optimally. At the end, this is what an engineering graduate is expected to do.”
