Two students from Delhi, Krish Aggarwal and Samarth Meattle, have developed an innovative solution to address the issue of poor indoor air quality in schools. They founded Project Vayu, a low-cost initiative that transforms ordinary classroom fans into affordable air purifiers using filters costing just Rs 140. The project has already reached several schools in Delhi, benefiting over 10,000 students.
The idea for Project Vayu was born from the question: Why shouldn't every classroom have an affordable filter? Concerned about children spending long hours in classrooms with unfiltered polluted air, Aggarwal and Meattle collaborated with Hollingsworth & Vose, a global filtration manufacturer, to develop a retrofit filter using electret media. This filter can be attached to regular fans in under a minute without tools or adhesives.
Unlike conventional air purifiers, the Vayu Filter uses airflow from an existing fan, eliminating the need for a separate motor or filtration unit. The filter's unique balloon-like design inflates when the fan is switched on, providing more surface area for air to pass through. It also uses electrostatic forces to trap pollutants without using an excessively dense material that could restrict airflow.
Project Vayu has reported encouraging results from a controlled-room performance test and aims to keep the technology affordable. Each filter costs approximately Rs 140 to manufacture, with the cost divided into three components: filter media, elastic lining, and stitching and transportation. The project provides the filters free of charge to schools and also supplies fans to classrooms that do not have one.
The distribution model is designed to make installation and maintenance equally accessible. Teachers can fit the filter onto an existing fan with minimal effort. Fresh filters are supplied every month, ensuring continuous clean air for students. Krish Aggarwal has been honored with the 2026 Diana Award Roll of Honour in recognition of his efforts towards improving indoor air quality in schools.