Engineer builds electric-free washing machine for remote areas
Navjot Sawhney created a hand-cranked washing machine called Divya to help people in areas without reliable electricity access.
Sawhney moved to a small South Indian village where he saw neighbors spending twenty hours weekly hand-washing clothes. He realized that electric machines failed there due to lack of power or water supply for the devices.
The new machine holds up to seven kilograms of clothing and uses only thirty liters of water for cleaning tasks. Users can easily disassemble the unit with just two simple tools to perform necessary maintenance repairs quickly.
This analogue device cuts labor time by 75% while reducing water use by 50% compared to manual washing. The invention will function for at least five to ten years before needing major replacement parts or service. It comes packaged in one box with clear guides for setup.
The Washing Machine Project plans to reach a million users by 2030 through development partners such as the UNHCR. They have already assisted over 105,000 people in Iraq, Lebanon, Mexico, Uganda, and the US with these durable tools.
“There is no single retail price for households.”