UP Student Pooja’s Dust‑Free Thresher Lands Her in Japan

In a feat that underscores innovation born of adversity, Pooja, a 17-year-old Class 12 student from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, has made headlines with her dust-free thresher, earning her a spot in the prestigious Sakura Science High School Programme in Japan from June 14–21 2025 facebook.com+3facebook.com+3timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3. As the sole representative of UP among 54 students selected nationwide, Pooja is challenging norms—proving that solutions to public health problems can emerge from the most modest backgrounds.

From Inspiration to Invention

Raised in a simple kuccha house by her father, Puttilal, a labourer, and her mother, Sushila, a cook–cum–helper at a local government school, Pooja’s entry into science was not a given. It was only after witnessing classmates coughing due to dust from agricultural threshers that she found her calling timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

Under the guidance of teacher Rajeev Srivastava, Pooja began experimenting on a prototype in Class 8. That early model caught the attention of the INSPIRE Awards, earning state- and national-level recognition—an affirmation of her potential.

The Innovation: Dust‑Free Thresher Explained

Pooja’s invention addresses a critical yet often-overlooked hazard: fugitive dust emissions from traditional threshers, a major contributor to respiratory illnesses in rural areas. Though details are limited, reports describe the thresher as incorporating an enclosed threshing chamber with integrated dust suppression mechanisms, improving air quality around farms and schools timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

Unlike conventional designs that emit dust unabated, this model captures particulate matter before dispersal, offering a practical, low-cost solution with scalable potential.

From Stage to Stage: Recognition & Opportunities

• INSPIRE Awards

  • Secured both state and national honour for her innovation.

• Sakura Science High School Programme

  • Hosted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), this initiative fosters global collaboration among young innovators. Pooja joins 53 peers selected from across India facebook.comtimesofindia.indiatimes.comsmu.edu+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1facebook.com+3facebook.com+3timesofindia.indiatimes.com+3.

Her story is a testament to how grassroots inventiveness, paired with institutional support, can amplify real-world impact—bridging the gap between conceptual ideas and global stage presence.

Why Pooja's Achievement Matters

1. Public Health Impact

   • Rural India grapples with respiratory issues. Pooja’s innovation directly addresses that—a validated intervention for community wellbeing.

2. Inspiring Inclusive Innovation

   • Her background underscores the power of accessible STEM education. A labourer's daughter from Barabanki now competes internationally, signalling democratization of scientific opportunity.

3. Model for Rural Entrepreneurship

   • Scalable solutions emerging from necessity, not just laboratories, are crucial for sustainable development. Pooja’s prototype could pave the way for wider rural innovation clusters.

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Pooja

• Japan Exposure (June 14–21, 2025):
  – Interacts with experts and innovators, receives advanced training, and exchanges ideas on environmental tech.

• Prototype Refinement:
  – Feedback from Japanese mentors could guide enhancements in portability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

• Pilot Deployment:
  – INSPIRE Awards and local education authorities can facilitate field trials in Uttar Pradesh—testing adoption in real-world farming environments.

• Scaling & Impact:
  – Partnerships with agri-tech firms and cooperatives may help replicate the model regionally, improving rural health.

Supporting Voices & Community Response

District Inspector O.P. Tripathi praises Pooja’s resolve, noting her “humble background” and her early exposure to science labs during Class 8. Poonam Singh, UP’s INSPIRE nodal officer, recalls:

“A lot of kids were constantly coughing due to the dust generated during threshing.” restaurantindia.in+1restaurantindia.in+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Local enthusiasm is high, with school officials and community members hopeful about her potential as a role model for budding innovators.