NONGSTOIN, May 28: An automatic sanitiser dispensing machine developed by a group of seven Class XII students from Sib Singh Memorial Government Higher Secondary School, Nongpyndeng, West Khasi Hills, has been approved by the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA).
The project was part of a vocational course that the school introduced, which was launched by Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills, T Lyngwa, in December 2020.
The machine is made of a wooden plank and steel and can work on electricity as well as battery. There are two variants of the machine, one with a steel pipe, which costs Rs 1,650, and the other with a bamboo costing Rs 1,000.
One of the students of the group who led the project, Wateiskhem Dkhar, said that the automated machine works on sensors and there is no need to touch the machine to squeeze out the sanitiser.
“The sensor will detect the hands once it comes within its range and give a signal to a motor immersed in the sanitiser bottle to dispense the liquid” he said.
He added that the machine, which has capacity of one and half litres, can be used by around 500 people after complete refill.
Wanteiskhem thanked his team along with teachers, Habaioh Jamu and T Jyndiang, who were also part of the group, for their support, assistance and ideas.
Meanwhile, the Principal of the school, L Syiemlieh, said, “First I was shocked to know that the students have come up with this new idea of making a simple but useful machine”.
She also informed that a proposal for this project was sent to the RMSA by the vocational trainer, which later got approved.
Few government offices in Nongstoin including the DC’s office, PHE, BDO office along with general public are buying the machines.