How Is India Cleaning Up Its Medical Waste?

In 2025, India launched its first fully automated biomedical waste treatment plant at AIIMS, New Delhi. The plant, called “Srjanam,” is special because it treats hazardous medical waste without burning it, making it safer for people and the environment.

Medical waste includes used syringes, gloves, bandages, and materials contaminated by blood or infections. If not handled properly, it can spread serious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis, and also harm the environment. India produces around 743 tonnes of biomedical waste every day, and a lot of it was earlier being burnt or dumped incorrectly, leading to pollution and health risks.

Two futures, one choice: Pollute and grieve, or protect and thrive.

“Srjanam” changes this. Developed by Indian scientists at CSIR-NIIST in Kerala, the plant disinfects medical waste without using incinerators. Instead of burning, it uses an automated, eco-friendly system that kills harmful germs without creating toxic smoke. It can treat up to 400 kilograms of waste every day and is designed to be affordable and safe for hospitals and clinics across India.

This is important because burning medical waste creates poisonous gases that pollute the air and can cause serious health problems. With “Srjanam,” hospitals can manage waste responsibly, protect public health, and reduce pollution at the same time.

The launch of "Srjanam" shows how science and innovation can create better solutions for real-world problems. It also reminds us why proper waste management is important for a healthier and cleaner future.

WRITTEN BY CHANDRA BISHT, GRADE 12

Comments

Why Are Schools Talking About Three Languages?

According to the New Education Policy 2020 (NEP), a 5+3+3+4 school structure was introduced, focused on mother tongue-based learning, critical learning, inclusivity, and multipurpose-based learning. The idea was to make education inclusive and to make higher education flexible. It contains three types of languages—regional languages (Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Marathi, etc.), national language (Hindi), and global language (English). This restructures the primary, secondary, and higher education system. Tamil Nadu has followed a two-language system (Tamil + English) because they believe that adding Hindi to their education system takes away from their local identity. Other states fear that students will have too much academic load. There are similar cases, like 50 students attempting suicide in 2017 because they failed in exams, and there were 13,089 reports of suicide attempts by students in 2021 in our country. Learning three languages helps gain a more global, open-minded perspective. I...

Why Did the Earth Shake in Delhi?

In February 2025, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook Delhi. It was a shallow earthquake, meaning it happened close to the Earth’s surface. Scientists say it was caused by water movement underground — a process called hydro fracturing — near ancient fault lines in the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt. An earthquake happens when rocks deep under the Earth suddenly move and release energy. This energy travels as seismic waves, which make the ground shake. Sometimes the shaking is light and barely noticeable, and sometimes it can cause major damage depending on how much energy is released and how close it is to the surface. The Delhi earthquake was called a “shallow” earthquake because it happened just 5 kilometers below the ground. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly because the energy has less distance to travel to reach the surface. Even though the Delhi quake was only 4.0 on the Richter Scale, many people felt it sharply because of how close it was to the surface. An AI generated im...

Goal-Getter in the Making: Suraj Kumar Inspires with Talent and Grit

Whether he’s scoring goals for Sigma FC or acing his exams, this young athlete is proving that balance is the key to success. Meet Suraj Kumar, a grade 9 student at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Sec. School who’s quickly becoming the talk of the community—thanks to his standout performances on the football field. Playing as a striker for the Sigma FC team, Suraj helped lead his squad to victory in the Inter-Club Championship, netting two goals and setting up another. Balancing schoolwork and football isn’t easy, but Suraj makes it look effortless. Despite long hours of training and weekend matches, Suraj maintains strong grades and is known in school for his discipline and time management. “I try to give equal importance to both studies and football,” Suraj shares. “It’s not easy, but I’ve learned to manage my time well.” His success wouldn't be possible without the constant support of his parents. They have played a major role in helping him pursue his dreams. “They ensure that I stick...

THE STUDENT XPRESS

Search This Blog