"When somebody dumps trash into a dustbin the bin flashes a unique code, which can be used to gain access to free WiFi, says Prateek Agarwal, one of the two founders of the initiative.
Mumbai-based Agarwal and his partner Raj Desai, a self taught programmer, travelled extensively to countries like Denmark, Finland, Singapore etc and realised that keeping surroundings clean needed apart from a difference in structure, a change in the attitude of people.
The duo hit upon the idea while visiting the NH7 Weekender a music festival which is spread around a large area and as music festivals go is home to music food drinks and of course a lot of garbage.
" ...It took us six hours to find our friends. Since there was no network, we could not reach them through a phone call. It was the trigger for the idea and we thought why not provide free WiFi to people using hotspots," says Pratik.
The self-funded experiment with support from operator MTS proved to be a success at the various Weekender Festivals held in Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi but is not operative at the moment.
The founders say they have received queries from GAIL and talks are in due process.
"We wanted to change the attitude of the people and how things are structured, thus affecting an individual's behaviour," says Raj Desai.
The venture, though not operative now aims to satisfy the need of Internet at every step in the modern day world.
The duo say they tend to setup a network of WiFi bins thus helping to bring about a behaviourial redesign among people.
The venture was recently showcased at "Networked India", a unique initiative by Ericsson and CNN-IBN that aims to identify and facilitate clutter-breaking innovations in the field of connectivity and mobility.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
