When a young entrepreneur Akash Singh saw the horrible state of a nearby lake, he was motivated to do something about it.
This 21-year-old, who grew up in a village near Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, gathers temple trash and uses it to make wonderful artefacts with the help of prisoners in prison.
This is how Akash not only reduced the amount of temple waste deposited in the lake but also provided jobs for convicts.
Converting Temple Waste Into Artefacts
In an interview with Mad4India, Akash explained how he has been working to liberate inmates by collecting and recycling temple debris and turning it into sculptures.
“My first science project, which I finished in 9th grade, turned out to be a defining event for me as an ordinary student who was shunned from learning. The CBSE science fair chose my very first science project. It gained me several honours, which motivated me to keep going with my research. I realised the same day that it is my inventions that have brought me fame and notoriety. I’ve been working on projects since then, holding science fairs in my area, and trying out new ideas. I was more engaged in the Electrical and Mechanical departments in college at times,” Akash shares.
He invented things like a self-watering sprinkler and a self-powered walking stick, among other things.
Akash, “I enrolled in a three-year diploma programme in Civil Engineering at the prestigious Manesar Polytechnic Education Society in Gurgaon after finishing my tenth grade. In 2018, I founded my own company, Energinee Innovations.”
Here Is How It All Started
Observing nature has always been one of his favourite pastimes. As a result, he began to attend a freshly constructed lake near the Shani temple, which he frequented with his companions.
Unfortunately, its condition quickly deteriorated, which upset Akash. He then began investigating the problem, eventually concluding that the highly contaminated water is a result of temple waste disposal.
“This had a profound effect on me. As a result, I devised the idea of repurposing waste materials to make marvels, but I lacked a team. This problem was immediately rectified when I started working with inmates; this idea not only helped the lakes around the temples develop, but it also brought me closer to the innocent souls behind bars,” Akash explained.
“The incubation centre assisted him in getting in touch with the GB Nagar District Jail, where he began a 15-day trial alongside the other 22 offenders,” he continued.
Recycling 160 Temples Waste With Jail Inmates
They began by collecting trash from 160 temples throughout the Delhi/NCR region. When they trained over 35 jail inmates in the Noida to make idols, they identified their partner.
His first goal was to recycle temple garbage in some way to reduce water contamination. After performing an investigation, he discovered that a mixture of coconut husk and ash produced a strong binder that could be sculpted and moulded into sculptures. As a result, he came up with the idea of making idols and little artwork out of the mix.
How He Included Jail Inmates In His Initiative
Later, he sought counsel from the NITI Aayog’s Atal Incubation Center to engage with imprisoned inmates, thereby assisting them in learning a new skill and seeking jobs once they were released.
At the Gautam Buddha Nagar Jail, they formed a team, and they trained around 46 prisoners. It enabled them to be more productive with their time and to get compensated for their efforts. They also assisted roughly 16 inmates in finding work with various NGOs or organisations once they were freed from prison.
“Our Incubation Unit told us that we needed to deal with inmates.” Not only were we able to recycle temple wastes, but we also provided inmates with a better future after they were freed on bail. This business has provided them with a means of surviving and earning a living. We’ve been supporting the inmates since then by teaching them how to create statues and rewarding them for their efforts,” he says.
Gathering Temple Wastes
Every month, they gather between 1800 and 3000 kg of ash waste from roughly 160 temples. These are made into artefacts such as showpieces, flower pots, and pen holders, among other things.
He feels that their firm’s success is due to a collaborative effort marked by trust and commitment to the task at hand.
He has garnered multiple awards for his initiative. He has got appreciation from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Chief Minister of Haryana for his projects. He has also received the MSME Udyam award and the Young Entrepreneur Award from the Greater Noida Authority. Akash was selected as an Ashoka Young Changemaker from India for the inaugural global edition and is currently incubating at the Atal Incubation Center BIMTECH.
Goals To Extend His Initiative
He aims to expand the facilities and include female inmates in the effort. Through this effort, he intends to cover over 500 temples and clean up the lakes. Their mission, driven by socioemotional influence, is to improve the lives of people all around the world.
A well-known director, Rahul Ranjan, was also impressed by his work. On Akash’s work, Ranjan directed a documentary called ‘Ashes to Idols,’ which is on Amazon Prime.
Akash Singh has so far trained 46 inmates how to sculpt 60 different sorts of statues. His company also assists in the rehabilitation of inmates outside of prison gates. They assist convicts in finding jobs with other non-governmental organisations by declaring their support for them.
Energinee Innovations creates a wide range of artefacts, from little showpieces to monuments, including deity idols. The company’s items start at Rs 300 and go up to Rs 11,000 in price.
COVID Times
However, when the pandemic struck in 2020, they were stopped working owing to COVID limits.
Although the pandemic temporarily halted operations, Akash organised a new team with a group of everyday labourers.
“Right now, we have a tiny crew of about 15 people from a slum near Greater Noida. We found folks who manufactured handicrafts for a living and were experiencing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. We taught them how to make our items and helped them earn a living,” Akash says.
Akash Singh is a shining example of youth in action, guaranteeing a clean environment and ensuring that no one is left behind.
If you loved this story about young eco-activist, Manya Harsha, you can also read about Can You Believe It! This 11-year-old Girl is Making Paper From Kitchen Waste
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