Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Evergen and Airlabs announce World’s first Clean Air Zone “AirHavn”– to demonstrate an innovative new technology to clean air pollution in Delhi

~National Physical Laboratory’s Gas Metrology Sectionto conduct independent validation of the pilot~

New Delhi 14 June 2018:Evergen Systems along with theirtechnology partner, Airlabs today announced the launch of ‘AirHavn’ the pilot of the World’s First Clean Air Zone at Lakhi Shah Banjara Hall, Gurudwara Rakabganj Saheb, Delhito demonstrate the revolutionary technology and announce their plans for cleaning air pollution across India. Present at the launch were Dr. Matthew Johnson, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at University of Copenhagen, Chief Scientific Officer at Airlabs and Sukhbir S. SIDHU, Founder and CEO, Evergen Systems, Dr. Shankar Aggarwal, Senior Scientist, Gas Metrology Section, National Physical Laboratory of India and Manjit Singh GK, President of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee.




Evergen were the pioneers to launch CityTree in London and became the first company in Britain to install technology solutions to tackle urban air pollution. Evergen are working with Municipalities, local authorities and Government agencies to install CityTree across the UK. After almost two years of researching and trials of a number of technologies, Evergen has the exclusive license for– CityTree – the worlds first Biotech filter for cleaning urban air pollution.
AirHavn is an ‘architectural masterpiece’ that has been especially designed and constructed applying the laws of fluid dynamics to take control of air flow. The AirHavn combines a design based on extensive optimisation using high performance computing with high performance air filters. The innovative Airlabs technology utilises a combination of atmospheric chemistry and airflow engineering and implemented through a proprietary dual filter system combining nano-particles for removing 97-99% fine dust particles and a chemical media to remove gases like NOx, SOx, CO2 and Ozone.

Speaking at the launch Mr. Sukhbir Sidhu, Founder & CEO Evergen Systems Ltd,“ Air quality is huge problem and barely a day goes by without a story in the national or city media focusing on the deteriorating quality of our air and its impacts on human health. In early 2016 our company began looking into ways of tackling this problem. He further added, “We are delighted that we, along with our technology partners Airlabs took the decision to set up a pilot clean air zone in Delhi to demonstrate the technology and announce our plans for cleaning air pollution across India. It was a huge challenge to secure a suitable site in the middle of the city. Let’s be clear, this is the only proven technology that is capable of cleaning outdoor air pollution. It has been tested by University of London, now in Delhi and soon by NPLI”

Scientist and Prof (Dr.) Matthew Johnson, University of Copenhagenon launching the project said, “We have done the impossible: Today, together with our partners at Evergen India, we are launching and dedicating the worlds first open-air clean air zone to the people of India: The AirHavn. My team has been monitoring the air quality from inside and outside the AirHavn since last few days. We are having real time updates on quality of the air, the results are phenomenal as we have monitored pollution reduction by up to 70 %. The air quality is also being independently monitored by National Physical Laboratory’s, Gas Metrology Section.”
Gurdwara Rakabganj, where the AirHavn pilot is taking place for 3 weeks is located in Delhi. General public, students, politicians and civic leaders are invited to visit the AirHavn, enjoy clean air and learn about this revolutionary technology completely free of cost.
Note to the editors:
About Evergen Systems Ltd
Established in 2010 Evergen are a multi award winning cleantech company. Since the beginning their mission has been to reduce energy consumption and COemissions in the built environment. The company has been installing Solar generation, electricity storage and Energy Management Systems on homes, commercial properties and public sector buildings. Over the years company’s business has evolved from saving energy and cutting COemissions, to reducing pollution and cleaning the air.

About Airlabs
Airlabs was founded by Matthew Johnson, Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen and Sophie Power, a London based businesswoman concerned about the health of her children. The company exists to give people clean air to breathe in polluted cities. Airlabs combines a greater understanding of air pollution  through its sensor networks and airflow modelling capabilities, alongside the technology and engineering to create true clean air zones throughout cities. Airlabs has launched several projects in London. From bus shelters to benches and the AirHavn is the first large scale demonstration of outdoor air cleaning. The company launched its first consumer product, the AirBubbl, to clean the highly polluted air inside vehicles. Airlab’s technology has had global media coverage and independent scientific validation.

Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Certificates distributed to successful trainees of PMKVY- RPL in Agriculture by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy at Chhapra, Bihar

 IL&FS Skills is implementing RPL in Agriculture Sector for Dairy Farmer/Entrepreneur, Tuber Crop Cultivator and Maize Cultivator Job Roles

IL&FS Skills, a joint initiative of IL&FS Education & National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC), organized a certificate distribution ceremony for successful trainees of PMKVY RPL in Agriculture Sector for Dairy Farmer/Entrepreneur, Tuber Crop Cultivator and Maize Cultivator Job Roles at Community Center, Amnour, Chappra, Bihar. Fifteen successful trainees were awarded certificates by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament and former Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India; Shrimati Neelam Pratap Singh; Shri C N Gupta, MLA, Chhapra; Shrimati Anu Singh, BJP Mahila Morch President; Shrimati Bhawana Verma, Representative, NSDC and Shri Rohit Kumar, SDO Amnour, Chhapra. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme in the Agriculture sector under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India was launched at Ishrauli Bazar, Madhora, Saran, Bihar on 22nd February 2018.  The ceremony was graced by Dr. Prem Kumar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Government  of  Bihar,  Shri  Gyan  Chandra  Manjhi,  Ex-MLA,  Garkha  and  Shri Vinay  Singh,  Ex  MLA,  Sonpur.  The ceremony was attended by Ms.  Bhawana Verma, Official from NSDC, Mr.  Amit Verma, Official from ASCI, local Panchayat members, Mukhiya from villages of across Chhapra. In total, attendees included  over  1000  people  including  RPL  trainees,  community  members,  media and  members  of  IL&FS  Skills  regional  team  in  Bihar.

The Project Launch Ceremony was focused upon the RPL project launch and commencement of first batch of training. The ceremony also included welcome speech by hon’ble guests and trainers. The candidate welcome kits including a t-shirt/jacket, cap, notebook, pen etc. were distributed along with other course material and domain books.

Saran, being a predominantly agrarian district of Bihar state, agriculture is the main occupation  of  the  people  of  the  district  and  also  their  main  source  of  livelihood. Livestock  is  very  important  in  a  district  like  Saran  with  a  predominantly agricultural economy. Dairy  farming  is  largely  practiced  as  a  traditional  backyard  activity  and  it represents  a  considerable  share  of  income  even  for  the  poor  households  in  cases where  household  with  only  dairy  income  is  considered  and  Saran  is  also  one  of such district of Bihar. Although  Saran  is  positioned  to  leverage  the  opportunities,  farmers  practicing dairy  farming,  paddy,  wheat,  maize  and  tuber  crop  cultivation  are  reportedly constrained due to structural and skill related gaps and other external factors also. Further, demand for Maize and Tuber crops is on the rise, and Saran District is endowed with deep, flat and fertile soil capable of sustaining crop production. In  view  of  the  above  and  to  ensure  sustainable  means  of  livelihoods  for  the existing  farmers  by  means  of  up-skilling  and  enhanced  scope  for  better  price realization  of  their  produce,  it  has  been  envisaged by Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to structure a suitable Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for these experienced farmers.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF), which is a competency based framework that organizes all qualifications according to a series of levels of knowledge, skills and aptitude. RPL is a platform to provide recognition to the informal learning or learning through work to get equal acceptance as the formal levels of education.

The programme aims to impart skills training for existing workers to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce to the NSQF under PMKVY RPL scheme. RPL focuses on enhancing the career/ employability opportunities of an individual as well as provide alternative routes to greater standards of living through skill enhancement. It also envisages providing opportunities for reducing inequalities based on certain privileged forms of knowledge over others. It is a process of assessment of an individual’s prior learning to give due importance to learning as an outcome rather than learning as a process. 

IL&FS Skills has been allotted a target to train 10,000 farmers, including both men and women, in Saran district of Bihar, belonging to socially marginalized communities. Post completion of training, the farmers will be certified by Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI). 

IL&FS Skills has conducted RPL program for multiple sectors including Agriculture, Apparel, Construction, Leather, Handicrafts & Carpet, Security, Tourism & Hospitality, RPL of Rashtrapati Bhawan employees, CRFP Jawans and street vendors through FSSAI in past as well, under the aegis of NSDC, and MSDE. This initiative of RPL under the PMKVY is expected to enable a large number of Indian youth to take  up  industry-relevant  skill  training, which  will  help  them  secure  a  better livelihood.

For more information, please write to vartika.khera@ilfsindia.com or call +919810072362

Photo Caption: Certificates distributed to successful trainees of PMKVY- RPL in Agriculture by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy at Chhapra, Bihar

Photo caption: Launch of PMKVY- RPL by IL&FS Skills in Chhapra, Bihar for Dairy Farmer/Entrepreneur, Tuber Crop Cultivator and Maize Cultivator Job Roles