An Exclusive Interview with Rashid K, Co-founder and Director, Genrobotic Innovations
A decade ago in Kozhikode, two contract ‘safai’ workers and an autorickshaw driver named Naushad lost their lives to manual scavenging. A passerby, Naushad had selflessly rushed to save the struggling manual scavengers in a manhole. Overcome by toxic gases, all three lost their lives as hundreds of citizens watched in dismay.
The tragedy laid bare the grim reality of manual scavenging, a practice that has claimed countless lives and subjected sanitation workers to degrading and life-threatening conditions. Despite being outlawed by the government, the practice persists in pockets of the country, forcing workers into life-threatening conditions to clean manholes and sewers with bare hands. For centuries, this work—often relegated to the marginalized—has exposed individuals to dangerous gases, toxic waste and countless health hazards, perpetuating a cycle of indignity and inequality.
The heart-wrenching tragedy triggered the creation of Bandicoot, a robotic scavenger designed to replace humans in cleaning manholes, safeguarding lives and restoring dignity to sanitation workers. This vision to end manual scavenging in the country through technological innovation became the driving force behind the inception of Genrobotics.
Thanks to Genrobotics, technology now offers a powerful solution to end this practice once and for all. This pioneering company uses cutting-edge robotics to take on this pressing issue head-on. By introducing machines like the Bandicoot Robot, the tech startup is not just saving lives but also empowering sanitation workers to reclaim their dignity through skill development and modern employment opportunities.
Leading this change is Rashid K, Co-founder and Director of Genrobotic Innovations. Under his leadership, Genrobotics is proving that technology, when driven by purpose, can dismantle the most deep-rooted social challenges and build a more equitable future.
In this interview, Rashid shares the inspiring journey behind Genrobotics, the challenges they overcame, and how their groundbreaking technology is transforming lives, one step at a time:
Q. What inspired the establishment of Genrobotics?
A. In 2015, a tragic incident in Calicut (now Kozhikode) profoundly shook us. Two sanitation workers lost their lives while cleaning manholes, and a rickshaw driver who tried to save them also met the same fate. This heart-wrenching incident exposed the glaring need for an alternative solution using robotics to end manual scavenging—a practice that puts human lives at grave risk.
It was this tragedy that inspired us to create Bandicoot, a robotic scavenger designed to replace humans in cleaning manholes, ensuring safety and dignity for sanitation workers. This vision became the driving force behind the inception of Genrobotics, with a clear mission: to end manual scavenging in the country.
Q. How does your mission align with addressing social challenges like manual scavenging?
A. Manual scavenging is not only a hazardous and degrading job but also a stark violation of human dignity. At Genrobotics, our mission is to eradicate this inhumane practice by leveraging advanced robotics technology to provide safer, dignified alternatives.
The Bandicoot Robotic Scavenger, designed with human-like arms and extendable legs, replicates the dexterity and reach of a human worker while eliminating the risks associated with hazardous manual intervention. By automating the manhole cleaning process, Bandicoot ensures that no individual has to enter dangerous, life-threatening environments again.
Beyond addressing the immediate dangers of manual scavenging, our mission goes further by empowering sanitation workers. Through skill development and training, we transform former manual scavengers into Bandicoot operators, enabling them to lead safer, more dignified lives while contributing to society with pride and financial independence.
Q. Could you share the journey of Genrobotics from its inception to becoming a leader in robotic solutions?
A. Our journey began with the launch of Bandicoot, the first-ever robot designed to eliminate manual scavenging. Bandicoot was first deployed in Kerala, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Interest from other states quickly followed, leading to the robot's deployment across 19 states and 3 Union Territories.
As we expanded, we identified a need for tailored solutions to address waste management challenges. This led to the development of Bandicoot Mobility+, a versatile variant for larger and more complex waste management tasks in municipalities, and Bandicoot Mini, a compact version for smaller municipalities with limited resources.
Our commitment to sanitation inspired further innovations like Wilboar, designed for confined-space cleaning and oil tank maintenance, and Draco, the world’s first amphibious drone for sludge cleaning in operational oil tanks, developed in collaboration with IOCL.
Beyond sanitation, we ventured into healthcare with G-Gaiter, an advanced robotic gait trainer for neurorehabilitation. Today, G-Gaiter is deployed in six major hospitals, transforming rehabilitation for patients with gait disabilities. A pediatric version was also developed to support children with conditions like cerebral palsy.
Each milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to solving societal challenges through advanced robotics—from sanitation to healthcare—while improving lives and creating a safer, more inclusive world.
Q. The Bandicoot robot is crucial in eliminating manual scavenging. Can you elaborate on its design and the specific challenges it addresses?
A. Manual scavenging exposes workers to deadly gases inside dark, hazardous manholes. Recognizing this, we designed Bandicoot to clean manholes without requiring human entry.
Bandicoot features a multifunctional robotic arm with four degrees of freedom, mimicking human dexterity. Its expandable bucket system and a lifting capacity of 125 kg per cycle allow it to handle various types of waste, including sand, silt, and hard debris.
The robot’s adjustable legs, customizable diving capacity of up to 8 meters, and machine vision technology ensure precise cleaning in diverse settings. Night-vision cameras and an HD display allow operators to monitor the process in real-time. Its user-friendly interface ensures that sanitation workers, regardless of technical background, can operate it with ease.
By eliminating manual intervention, Bandicoot addresses the health and safety challenges faced by workers, setting a new standard for sustainable and dignified sanitation practices.
Q. How do products like G-Mammoth cater to industrial and urban needs, and what sets them apart in terms of efficiency and sustainability?
A. Industrial and urban spaces face immense challenges in managing waste like hard sediments, fatbergs, and semi-liquid residues that obstruct sewer systems. Traditional cleaning methods are unsafe, inefficient, and unsustainable.
To tackle this, we developed G-Mammoth, an advanced suction-cum-jetting machine. Its high-pressure jetting system dislodges stubborn blockages, while its powerful suction mechanism removes debris efficiently. By integrating Wilboar’s robotic capabilities, G-Mammoth becomes a comprehensive solution capable of handling solid and liquid waste.
These innovations reduce environmental impact, minimize manual labor, and promote cleaner, safer urban environments—reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.
Q. What has been the impact of your initiatives on manual scavengers' lives, particularly through training and skill development programs?
A. Through the Genrobotic Foundation, we have rehabilitated over 3,000 manual scavengers and their families by equipping them with skills to operate Bandicoot robots. This training provides safer, dignified employment opportunities, enabling them to leave behind hazardous work.
We also collaborate with organizations like NSKFDC to provide safety kits, medical support, and holistic skill development programs. These initiatives enhance livelihoods and significantly improve the quality of life for their families, ensuring financial independence and dignity.
Q. How does Genrobotics advocate for the end of manual scavenging while raising awareness about the potential of robotics in improving lives?
A. Our advocacy combines innovation with social impact. By deploying Bandicoot robots in over 19 states and 3 Union Territories, we are proving that technology can replace dangerous manual scavenging practices. However, our efforts don’t stop there.
We conduct awareness campaigns and rehabilitation programs to empower sanitation workers. By training them to operate robots, we provide them with safer, dignified livelihoods while showcasing how robotics can uplift human lives. Through these initiatives, we are building a future where technology and humanity work hand-in-hand to create safer, cleaner, and more equitable communities.
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