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Competition

Samasya Khoj


Identify Problems. Inspire Innovation.
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Problem ID: 1000488
🧠 Problem Title: Economic Loss and Food Wastage due to Lack of Passive Cooling for Mobile Street Vendors.
📝 Problem Description

In India, millions of street vendors (Thela-walas) sell perishable fruits and vegetables using open wooden or metal carts. These vendors operate under direct sunlight for 8 to 12 hours a day. The core problem is the rapid "transpiration" and "wilting" of produce caused by high ambient temperatures and solar radiation., Most vendors lack access to electricity on the move and cannot afford expensive battery-powered refrigeration or heavy ice boxes that take up selling space. To keep produce looking "fresh," they frequently splash it with water. However, in humid conditions, this often accelerates fungal growth and rot rather than cooling. By mid-afternoon, up to 20% of their stock often becomes "grade-B" (shriveled) or unsellable, forcing them to sell at a loss or throw the food away., This is not just a food waste issue; it is a thermal management challenge. There is a desperate need for a solution that provides "passive" or "low-energy" cooling that can be integrated into a standard moving cart without increasing the weight or cost beyond the reach of a daily-wage earner.

⚡ Impact
Hundreds and more
🌍 Impact Area
Universal
📊 Scope
National
📌 Place
In public
⏱ Occurrence
Frequently
⚠ Life Risk
No
💰 Financial Loss
Lakhs or more

👤 Name
L K Vaibhav
🎓 Class
10
📍 State
Karnataka