Launch of the SAFER Innovation Challenge

Reckitt, through its Harpic World Toilet College initiative, together with the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), announced the SAFER Challenge – an acronym for Sanitation Worker Assistance for Fatality Elimination & Risk Reduction. The national challenge seeks affordable, wearable gas‑detection devices that can alert sanitation workers to hazardous gases during sewer and septic‑tank cleaning operations.

Objectives and Alignment

The programme aligns with India’s broader sanitation agenda, referencing the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and complementing Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, NAMASTE, and the Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge. It aims to reduce fatalities caused by toxic gas exposure and oxygen‑deficient environments, thereby enhancing occupational safety for sanitation workers.

Eligibility and Timeline

Open to startups, individual engineers, designers, researchers, and academic institutions across India, applications are accepted until 1 September 2026. Winners will be announced on 2 October 2026.

Prize Structure and Support

  • Winner: Cash grant of Rs 5 lakh.
  • First runner‑up: Cash grant of Rs 2 lakh.
  • Second runner‑up: Cash grant of Rs 1 lakh.

All selected participants will also receive mentorship, field‑validation opportunities, access to Urban Local Bodies, interaction with senior government officials and policy experts, national visibility, and assistance for pilot deployment and future scale‑up.

Implementation Phases

The challenge will progress through three stages:

1. Pitch – initial submission and evaluation.

2. Pilot – shortlisted solutions will be tested with sanitation workers and Urban Local Bodies.

3. Scale – successful pilots will be supported for broader adoption through government and industry platforms.

Governance Structure

A Steering Committee will oversee the challenge, chaired by Prof. Ravi Bhatnagar, Communications and Corporate Affairs Director, South Asia, MENARP and Africa, Reckitt. Committee members include:

  • Dr. Ramakant, Deputy Advisor, Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • Padma Shri Prof. (Dr.) Indira Chakravarty, public‑health and environment expert.
  • Dr. B. Janardhan Reddy, IAS (Retd.), Centre Director, CEUG&ID, ASCI.

The evaluation jury comprises:

  • Mr. Sahil Talwar, Director – Impact Initiatives & Partnerships, Jagran Pehel.
  • Mr. Asad Umar, Sector Lead and Director, WASH, Aga Khan Foundation.
  • Dr. M. Snehalatha, Associate Professor, CEUG&ID, ASCI.
  • Dr. Vivek Singh Chauhan, Senior Manager, Partnerships, Reckitt.

Application Portal

Interested innovators can submit proposals via the ASCI portal at https://asci.org.in/safer.

Contact

For further information, contact Kashika Gulati, Reckitt at kashika.gulati@reckitt.com.