In 2013, a marketing professional Manish Nath Mathur went to his own school in Udaipur, Rajasthan ten years after graduating. The sorry state of the students sitting on a dari with no infrastructure and electricity left him perturbed.
He left his job in Delhi at the workspace solutions company Pyrotech and launched Prayas Innovation, a social enterprise, in April 2014 along with his former colleague, Saurabh Bag to develop a product so the students can study efficiently.
It took them two years to develop a waterproof bag, YELO (which means take it in Hindi) that can be turned into a writing table and comes with an in-built LED lamp.
They started manufacturing 250 bags per day in their factory in Udaipur and launched it commercially in January 2015.
The bag is made up of recyclable plastic which is low-cost and durable and can carry weight of up to eight kgs. With a single fold from the front flap, the bag can be turned into a school desk. The desk maintains an angle of 30-35 degrees ensuring the students maintain an ergonomic posture while studying.
There is a higher version of the bag that comes with a solar kit to power the LED lamp. It has a rechargeable battery which lasts for up to eight hours and can be charged through solar energy or by AC charging.
YELO has been awarded for its innovation by The Department of Science & Technology of India in November 2014.
They have sold 2,000 products till date. Some of their big clients are NGOs such as Mumbai-based AARAMBH and Orissa based Gram Vikas. They intend to collaborate with the government for the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and also with corporates for CSR activities so they can reach a wider number of students the world over.
YELO costs Rs 399 for a basic version and Rs 699 for the higher version with a LED lamp.
