Municipal Committee Leh (MCL) launched Bandicoot Robot, on a trial basis, to eliminate manual scavenging in Leh on December 1. 

The initiative of Municipal Committee Leh to mechanize sewer cleaning would promote and contribute towards Mission Zero Manual Scavenging and aid in achieving the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission. It is also by the advisory issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, GoI to set up an Emergency Sanitation Response Unit (ESRU) at the district level under the Responsible Sanitation Authority (RSA) to eliminate hazardous manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks.  
 
Executive Officer MCL, Stanzin Rabgais informed that Genrobotics’ Bandicoot was procured after seeing their operational performance in 17 States and UTs of the country. He stressed that this initiative would successfully promote the Safai Mitra Suraksha Challenge, launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, by implementing mechanical tools for cleaning sewers and ending manual scavenging.   
 
DC Leh, Srikant Suse directed Executive Officer, MCL, and the Genrobotics representatives to train the sanitation workers of the Municipal Committee to enable them to efficiently and effectively operate the Bandicoot Robot.
 
The Genrobotics team performed a practical demonstration of the functioning of the Bandicoot Robot. 
 
The World’s First Robotic Scavenger ‘Bandicoot’ is designed and developed by Genrobotics, a national award-winning Start-up, to eliminate manual intervention from cleaning confined spaces like sewer manholes and provide a safer workspace for sanitation workers. Bandicoot is a major technological innovation to build a manual scavenging-free India. 
 
Bandicoot Robot consists of two units, a stand unit, and a robotic drone unit. The robotic drone unit with a multi-functioning robotic arm dives into the manholes for cleaning or unblocking operations. The customizable diving depth of the robotic drone, with added features of carbon fiber body, smart user interface, 4 IP68 proof cameras, operational assistance, and corrosive resistance enables the robot to perform its operation in any hazardous or corrosive sewerage environments effectively for a longer period.