Student Name: Rohan Chalamalasetti -- Winner (Middle School Cohort)

Grade During 2019-2020 Academic Year: 6th grade

Hometown: West Des Moines, IA

India is an amazing country. With a population of 1.4 billion people, it is the world’s second most populated. India is naturally very diverse, with Himalayas in the north where population density is very low compared to urban areas of major cities like Mumbai and Delhi. India is still developing both technologically and economically along with the challenges of overpopulation. 

Access to clean drinking water is one of those challenges that cuts across both rural and urban areas in India. For a typical family that lives in poverty, access to clean water is one of the biggest concerns. Unclean water results in severe illnesses that are waterborne, such as malaria and diarrhea. These can be fatal. I am focusing on the issue of access to clean drinking water because I believe this is an acute challenge. 

During my research, I found many solutions in ancient India. One of the oldest systems used for clean water is a Jhalara. A Jhalara is a large well-like hole with steps for people to bathe in the water. The well is connected to large bodies of freshwater and has been used since the 1600s. Another old way that people used clean water was something called a Panam Keni. They originated from the Kuruma tribe and are used mainly to store water. They are wooden cylinders that are around 4 feet in diameter and hold water from springs. Some other modern ways are wells, which are popular in Indian villages. These are large cylinders, deep in the ground and are linked to bodies of water. In some villages, these wells are located many miles away. Some villages have water pumps administered. All these above methods are effective. However, there are still issues like water being unsanitary if not filtered properly. 

Even though I was born in Iowa, I have been to India many times since my childhood. I have seen the conditions in certain areas and how people are living in India. I have a close connection with Sehgal foundation, founded by Suri and Edna Sehgal from Iowa. I was inspired by the work they are doing in India for agriculture and education by providing systems and access to clean drinking water. I got involved with them to understand their solutions. When I visited India in 2019, I had an opportunity to see the work of the foundation firsthand. I would like to highlight one major initiative funded by this foundation focusing on water filtration. 

The idea of Sehgal Foundation is to create an economic and natural way of harvesting rainwater using bio sand water filters. The premise of this filtration is very simple.  As rain falls on buildings and lands on the roof, it can flow into a manmade slope, which leads to giant bio - sand filters that filter the water and remove impurities. The unsanitary parts of the water, if collected properly, can be utilized by farmers as fertilizers. Clean drinking water is stored in tanks and manmade lakes for human consumption. I believe that this solution can be administered in schools where kids can have access to clean drinking water. This freshwater can also be stored and provide a supply to homes in rural areas limiting time spent to go to the wells to fetch clean water. 

As many challenges remain in a large country like India, practical and economical solutions that are designed by Sehgal foundation are a quick way to turn the tide against deadly waterborne diseases as well as bring happiness and good health to the people that have access. This concludes my essay and thank you for reading.