VIKALP

Introduction
Water the elixir of life is fast depleting due to the centuries of human indifference to this resource but now trends are
changing and everyone is aware of the scarcity of this resource. Many people are trying to do their bit but there are some who
want to make a larger contribution to the society by trying to purge it of the evils of this resource. Vikalp targets such
people and invites them to envision and create disruptive business models coupled with out of the box innovation that can
identify these problems, the impact of these problems and how their combo would be best suited to tackle the current need of
humanity.

What is Water Scarcity?

Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet water needs within a region. It affects every
continent and around 2.8 billion people around the world at least one month out of every year. More than 1.2 billion people
lack access to clean drinking water.

This problem manifests itself into broad categories:

I. ECONOMIC WATER SCARCITY
II. PHYSICAL WATER SCARCITY
 Geographical Distribution of these Scarcities in India:
The North India plains of the Ganges and the entire North-East is affected by the economic water scarcity and the north
western states bordering Pakistan are affected by the physical water scarcity. The South and Central India are plagued by
the same physical water scarcity like their north-west counterpart as is evident from this map below.
What is Economic Water Scarcity?
Economic water scarcity is caused by a lack of investment in water infrastructure or insufficient human capacity
to satisfy the demand of water in areas where the population cannot afford to use an adequate source of water.
Symptoms of economic water scarcity include a lack of infrastructure, with people often having to fetch water from rivers or
lakes for domestic and agricultural uses (irrigation). Although much emphasis is put on improving water sources for drinking
and domestic purposes, evidence suggests that much more water is used for other uses such as bathing, laundry, livestock and
cleaning than for drinking and cooking alone. This observation suggests that putting too much emphasis on drinking water
needs addresses an insignificant part of the problem of water resources and therefore limits the range of solutions available.
Investing in water retention and irrigation infrastructure would also help to increase food production, especially in
developing countries that largely rely on low-yield agriculture. Being able to provide a community with water that is adequate
for consumption would also greatly benefit the people’s health. Overcoming this type of scarcity, however, can require more
than just new infrastructure; it requires socio-economic and socio-political types of intervention that address poverty and
socio-inequality but because there is a lack of funding, much planning must come into play.

What is Physical Water Scarcity?

Physical water scarcity is the situation when there is not enough water to meet all demands, such as those required by
an ecosystem to function effectively. Arid regions frequently suffer from physical water scarcity. It also occurs where water
seems abundant but where resources are over-committed. This can happen where there is overdevelopment of hydraulic
infrastructure, often for irrigation. Symptoms of physical water scarcity include environmental degradation and declining
groundwater. This scarcity can be eliminated by rejuvenation of the dead water resources like the ponds in village that
are dead and can be also done by replenishing of the ground water. But to address these problems technological innovation
has to be coupled with the involvement of the community that lives there because no solution will be feasible, acceptable
and sustainable if it does not actively involves the community it is trying to benefit.
Solution Expected:
The participants are expected to choose one of the verticals Physical or Economic and then they are to find the problems
highlighted in the above literature of the respective scarcities. The participants should also keep in mind the geographical
location of the verticals they choose (i.e economic or physical) so that the proposed solution is viable in real life and some
real benefit can be done to society.

Event Structure:
Participants have to select any one or more of the above-mentioned challenges and come up with a unique Entrepreneurial
Idea to solve them.

• ONLINE ROUND: Registration and One Page Submission

Registration Procedure: The participants have to register on the official website: Technex website-Pahal-
VikalpRegister. Participant need to submit one page report of their business model within a stipulated deadline on the
basis of this pager evaluation. Participants will be shortlisted for the campus round .

The One Page report should be emailed to <email> with the subject Pahal: Vikalp: Abstract: Team Id (For example
Pahal: Vikalp: Abstract: 1234). The abstract must be submitted in .pdf format only. Teams must follow the following
details for the submission:
 Abstract Format:
In less than 1 page

• Company Name: (Calibri, Font 10, Left, Bold)

• Product Name: (Calibri, Font 10, Left, Bold)
• Applicant/s Name: (Calibri, Font 10, Left, Bold)
1. Description of your Project or Business (Calibri, Font 12, Left, Bold): Short description of your Business or
project (Calibri, Font 10, justify)
2. Technology Involved/ Needed (Calibri, Font 12, Left, and Bold): Please describe about technology using
diagrams or any other means. (Calibri, Font 10, justify)
3. Company Financials (Calibri, Font 12, Left, Bold): About revenue and your business model (Calibri, Font 10,
and justify)
4. Innovative Components (Calibri, Font 12, Left, Bold): How is your idea innovative? In what way is it new
and different from other similar ideas? If it is a well‐known effective practice that you are newly adapting in your
business, explain how your adaptation will be distinctive. (Calibri, Font 10, justify)
• Round 1:
If you choose:

Physical Scarcity: Those students who chose this vertical will present a technical model of their solution. This will include
the blueprint of the idea, implementation plan and design of the device (if any).

Economic Scarcity: For the students who chose to solve this vertical’s problem will first present the business or
economic model for the direct implementation of their plan. This will include cost efficiency of their model in the
targeted area.

These will be presented to a panel of judges, following which the shortlisted teams will proceed to the final round.
• Final Round:

This will be revealed to the shortlisted teams of Round 1.

General Rules

1. Each team may have a maximum of four members.

The last modified abstract as on 27/01/2018 at 11:59 pm will be considered as final.
2. Multiple teams from same colleges are allowed.
3. Team comprising members from different colleges are not allowed.
4. The Teams must strictly follow all the deadlines failing to which will lead to their disqualification.
5. The event will be conducted in two rounds.
6. Your solutions and Ideas must be in the form of a business model. It can include marketing strategies and proper market
survey in support of your business model.

Terms and Conditions:

1. The decision of the judges shall be final and binding. All participants have to abide by the decision of the judges. No
interim or later communication about the decision or its veracity shall be entertained and shall be viewed seriously.
2. Violation of any rules may result in disqualification of the team.
3. Technex holds all the right to change the dates for the submission and the participants will be informed about the same
by E-mail.
4. All mode of official communication will be through e-mail.