Kolkata entrepreneur Preeyam Budhia has won the Family Business Network Next Gen Lombard Odier People’s Choice Award 2020 for her water conservation projects, which include a contactless hand-washing station as well as numerous innovations that have helped conserve water across the country.
The prestigious international award had participants from over 26 countries.
Preeyam is the daughter of Patton Industries Managing director Sanjay Budhia. She is also of the management of the company.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the Family Business Network (FBN) is a federation of Member Associations spanning 65 countries. FBN brings together 4,000 business families—encompassing 16,000 individuals. She is the president of the business development at Kolkata based Patton group of industries.
Preeyam launched the sustainability vertical ‘Embracing Green’ which focuses on Water Conservation (Rainwater Harvesting & Groundwater Recharging) and Renewable Energy (Solar Rooftops). She also launched the innovation vertical that developed Water-on-Wheels - a unique roller tank that is empowering the women & children of rural India. To help fight against COVID-19, she launched the 'contactless safe hand wash station', contactless waste bins and 'contactless crates'.
Preeyam joined the family business upon her return from the UK where she graduated in Management Studies from the University of Nottingham and studied Executive Management & Entrepreneurship at the London School of Economics & Political Sciences. She has also worked at illustrious institutions like Barclays Capital and Lehman Brothers, London, UK.
Her projects have helped accumulate rainwater for future use, recharge groundwater levels and make portable water accessible to rural India.
“It is a 90-litre roller tank (5 times the size of a regular bucket) made from 100 percent recyclable material to help out rural women and children who otherwise have to walk as long as 3 to 20 km daily to fetch portable water,” said a company official.
The handle grip and unique tank design reducce the risk of health hazards. It also saved time as well for them.
The other, perhaps the most interesting, is the foot-operated bins designed for the COVID patients’ care which could be used at home, hospital or even quarantine centres. They minimise the risk of contacts between health professionals, waste disposers and patients.
The other innovative idea was a contactless safe hand wash station: A foot-operated, hygenic and safe hand-washing solutions for residential or commercial use.