Bill Gates Foundation-Indian researchers aim to solve global sanitation crisis

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in collaboration with India's Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is reportedly aiming at solving the global sanitation crisis, which is impacting billions of lives each year.

'Reinvent the toilet fair,' held in New Delhi, showcased innovative ideas like solar-powered electronic toilets, a prototype that helps recharge mobile phones from urine, and one that could potentially offer advertising slots while pooping.

According to Tech Crunch, as per World Bank's estimates, the annual global cost of poor sanitation is around 260 billion dollars, of which India accounts for nearly 54 billion dollars.

The cost of poor sanitation also includes over 1.5 million kids who die every year because of diarrhea, a disease originating from un-sanitised toilets.

Six teams of researchers from India have been picked by the foundation, which will receive grants worth 2 million dollars in total, and help solve the global sanitation crisis through innovative toilet solutions.

Gates is known to have helped initiate programmes aimed at solving world's biggest and most complex of challenges like the eradication of Polio, with the use of technology.