The team was allotted the topic of toxic gas detection inside brine wells in Kutch.  After a field visit and a team split, they decided to do more than just detecting the gas. They started working on a way to make in and out movements of brine wells quick, easy and safe. Upon discussion with salt farmers in second field visit, the farmers drew their attention to graver issues they face in the region, like, limited availability of water for daily use, lack of primary health care services and transportation in the region. The salt farmers stay for 8 months in the Rann of Kutch. They then move to their villages which can be more than 40 km far. They carry 1000 - 1500 litres of water when they are moving to Kutch from their villages. The tankers that supply water, cannot supply water for the first two months due to the swampy conditions. The salt farmers ideally use about a 100 litres of water everyday. 75 for washing and bathing and 25 for drinking. They compromise on bathing and washing for the first 2 - 3 months. The tanker services are unreliable even after the initial months.

Motivated to solve the water crisis, providing an efficient and cost effective supplementary source of freshwater to the salt farmers in the Rann of Kutch, was taken up as the final project.

Field Visit Insights - Visit 1

The first farm had 4, 20 ft deep, functioning brine wells which were connected to 3 motors working on solar panels in day and diesel pump at night. The wells being situated in a region with a higher water table had comparatively lower depth. They also saw well digging tools and salt pans. The team went deeper into Rann next day, coming across wells ranging from 50 to 60 ft. The team observed different support structures inside the wells. The first well that the team saw had concentric concrete rings for support. The second well, on the other hand, had bamboo sticks for support as well as for up and down movement in the well. Most of the wells, however, did not have any mechanism to support its structure. Later in the evening, team visited Naya Kharagao, a village established in the British times for salt farmers. There the team interviewed people of the Agariya community asking them about salt farming, brine wells, challenges they face and improvements they look forward to."Gas toh Mr India jaisa hai, dikhai nahi deta", 40 years old, Ramesh Bhai said on the tragic problem of toxic gas leakage in wells. " Peewana pani ni dikkat che" said Vallabh Bhai bringing into light how fresh water tanker only reaches in the months of December - January, creating drinking water problem from October to January. The team thanked the villagers for their warmth and support, and left for their accommodation with richer insights.

Brainstorming (Quick, Easy, Safe Well Access)

A brainstorming session was used to ideate into the possibilities of different ways people can go “up”. This was in line with the need of the people to get out of the well. Sketching was used as tool to ideate. The wildest of ideas ranging from canons to drones, big wheel to skates and even as far as an underground rail were considered. Over time as we built upon our previous wild ideas we started reaching ideas with more deeper thought put into them and ideas that with time and thought were becoming more and more structured. The brainstorming session also helped explore into what surplus features might the user expect or require in the product. Then small but at the same time important insights were taken from all these wild ideas to create a learning experience for the team. Using all these insights we now move on to the conceptualisation phase where these learnings and ideas will be looked into thoroughly and compiled in various permutations and combinations to help create a product that has the positives and avoids the negatives.