Check out these inspired ideas and inventions that are making the world a better place, on the cheap
Have you ever fixed a problem in a clever way that brings a crafty smirk of self-satisfaction to your face? There’s a word for that in Hindi: ‘Jugaad’, which roughly translates as being an ingenious, low cost and effective solution to a problem. It’s fitting that this word can be found in Hindi, as India has been at the head of these ideas for decades now.
Last month, the BBC reported a story about Indian inventor Arunachalam Muruganantham, who created a machine that could produce sanitary products at a much lower cost than commercial products. It meant that women, especially in the rural areas, had access to more hygienic products, and also gave them new employment opportunities. India has also developed an affordable drug to treat gangrene, turned a motorbike into a tractor and a tablet computer that will cost you less than a first date. It’s fair to say, when it comes to ‘Jugaad’, India has got it going on.
This begs the question, who else is battling the pharmaceutical companies that over-price their products, keep people locked to their brand, and make life rather shitty for millions of people who need their help? Read on to discover some of these amazing revolutionaries.