IIT Madras alumni are situated in India and abroad and the institution is using a phased approach for deployment to ensure a high impact.

The IIT Madras Alumni Charitable Trust played a vital role in the logistics and in liaising with the local government to ensure timely deployment of the units.

As a Chennai boy, I am grateful and proud that the IIT Madras Alumni network has mobilized to help Chennai and Tamil Nadu with medical equipment and supplies to fill critical gaps and save thousands of lives, he said.

Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, handed over 200 Oxygen concentrators (10 liters capacity each), purchased with the aid of these contributions made by IIT Madras alumni.

Oxygen concentrators were donated to Mr. Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Commissioner, Chennai Corporation on 3 June in the presence of Mr. M.A. Siddique, Principal Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Mr. Meghanatha Reddy, Deputy Commissioner (Works), Government of Tamil Nadu, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (ACR), Mrs. N. Alamelu, Secretary, IIT Madras Alumni Charitable Trust, Mr. Kaviraj Nair, CEO (Development Office), IIT Madras, and others.

Further, Dr. Jane Prasad, Registrar, IIT Madras, handed over 74 BiPAP Units to Chennai Corporation Officials recently.

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IIT Madras alumni have also donated 200 Oxygen Concentrators (5 liters each) to Telangana Government.

Speaking about their efforts, Kamal Duggirala, chairman of IIT Madras Foundation (US) said t has been an amazing experience to contribute to this campaign with fellow IIT Madras alumni.

So many people stepped forward to source equipment, raise funds and ensure delivery of the equipment.

It is gratifying to know that we could make a difference at a very challenging time in India, he said.

Mrs. N. Alamelu, Secretary, IIT Madras Alumni Charitable Trust, Chennai said through this donation, our IIT Madras alumni would like to say that ‘while we may be separated by physical distance, our thoughts and support are always with you. We are with you.’

IIT Madras alumni working as senior executives with reputed MNCs were actively involved in evaluating and finalising the options available at various stages throughout the process.

IIT Madras will continue to contribute to the Covid relief measures in the months to come, as social commitment has always been a topmost priority for the Institute.

‘IIT Madras alumni have reacted swiftly and forcefully to fulfil a need created by this pandemic. We are ever grateful to them for their support.’

Further, Ms. Rekha Ranganathan, IIT Madras Alumnus (BTech, ‘93 Batch), said Chennai is home. When I learned about the challenges due to COVID for all patients and my friends, I strongly felt I had to give back to help.

‘IITM Foundation and MAANA came together to make it happen. I contributed as much as I could in resources and effort.’

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Mr. Kaviraj Nair, CEO (Development Office), IIT Madras said they saw a tremendous response from IIT Madras alumni who rose to the occasion and contributed generously to Covid relief activities.

IIT Madras alumni have demonstrated again that we are conscious of our social responsibilities and most willing to help our nation in times of need.

Besides these efforts, IIT Madras has formed a Covid Relief Fund to support students and faculty who are in distress due to the medical exigencies caused by the pandemic.

In the last financial year (FY’21), IIT Madras raised as much as Rs. 96 lakh to cater to the Covid relief requirements of students and employees of IIT Madras.

There is also a clear proposal to upgrade the medical infrastructure within the campus to cater to any potential requirements that may arise as it re-opens the campus to receive students, as and when the lockdown conditions are lifted and the threat of the pandemic eases out.

Modulus Housing, founded by IIT Madras alumni in 2018 and incubated by IIT Madras Incubation Cell, developed a portable hospital unit that can be installed anywhere within a few hours. Called ‘MediCAB,’ it is a decentralized approach to detect, screen, identify, isolate and treat COVID-19 patients in their local communities through these portable microstructures.

MediCAB has already been deployed in the field including in Wayanad, Kerala, among other places.

The technology was developed by Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team from the Department of Chemical Engineering in IIT Kanpur.

To facilitate its widespread adoption, IIT Kanpur has signed a technology transfer MoU with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

The pact was signed in the presence of Prof. Raja Angamuthu, Associate Dean of Research & Development, IIT Kanpur and Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (Inventor).

Device

The Soil Nutrient Sensing Device is a compact, smartphone-compatible innovation that provides real-time soil nutrient analysis, addressing the critical gap in timely soil testing for Indian farmers, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Traditionally reliant on district laboratories, farmers often face delays in receiving soil health assessments, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

Portability

Designed for portability and ease of use, the device can assess multiple soil parameters simultaneously, storing data on a cloud server, with a single charge supporting up to 250 tests, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

This pioneering device leverages Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy to deliver instant soil health insights directly to a smartphone, eliminating the need for chemical reagents and complex testing processes.

By enabling precise nutrient management, the technology has the potential to transform agriculture, enhancing crop productivity, reducing fertilizer overuse, and contributing to both improved farmer incomes and environmental sustainability, say sources from IIT Kanpur.

By providing instant, reagent-free testing with Near Infrared Spectroscopy, this technology empowers farmers to make informed decisions, optimize fertilizer use, and boost productivity, he said.

Through our collaboration with ScaNxt Scientific Technologies, we aim to transform Indian agriculture and take this pioneering innovation to global markets, supporting the vision of sustainable farming practices, he said.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh and his team for this groundbreaking development, he said.

Inventor

Prof. Jayant Kumar Singh (inventor) said their development is a culmination of years of research and hard work aimed at addressing the real challenges farmers face in soil health assessment.

It’s truly gratifying to see this innovation, which offers immediate and accuratesoil analysis, now being transferred to ScaNxt Scientific Technologies for broader adoption, said Prof Jayant Kumar of IIT Kanpur.

This device not only empowers farmers with instant insights but also supports the creation of a national soil stack, aiding in better fertilizer management and promoting sustainability, he said.

I am excited to witness the positive impact it will have, both on the ground and at the policy level, as it contributes to a more sustainable and efficient agricultural landscape, he said.

Their collaboration with IIT Kanpur through the joint MoU will allow us to advance soil testing technologies further, integrating micro and secondary nutrient analysis into our BhuParikshak device, he said.

By combining NIR Spectroscopy, IoT, and AI/ML, we aim to provide farmers with even more precise and actionable data to optimize nutrient management and drive sustainable agricultural growth, he said.

Market and collaboration

The Indian soil testing equipment market, currently valued at approximately USD 114.43 million as of 2024, is set for significant expansion.

Driven by the increasing demand for efficient agricultural productivity solutions and the need for climate resilience, this market is projected to reach USD 145.83 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.08%.

This collaboration sets the stage for a transformative shift in soil health management, equipping farmers with immediate, data-driven insights and promoting sustainable agricultural practices both in India and globally.

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