RIYADH – At a special ceremony held at the Indian Embassy to mark India’s Independence Day, Eram Group chairman and managing director Dr Siddeek Ahmed, was officially presented with the 2021 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) by the Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Indian ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
One of four recipients
Conferred by the President of India as a part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Conventions organised annually since 2003, this award acknowledges august members of the Indian community and their tangible contribution in social and humanitarian upliftment. This year, Dr Ahmed was one of only four recipients from the Middle East and the only one representing the Kingdom. The pandemic didn’t allow for the more elaborate ceremony that is usually held in New Delhi annually every year, but the sense of occasion and sentiment was palpable at the embassy.
Innovative e-Toilet
Dr Ahmed spoke of how he extended his vision and outstanding technology in the sanitation sector with the launch of an R&D-based social enterprise, Eram Scientific Solutions, aimed at developing indigenous technology tailored to local requirements. The result was the innovative ‘e-Toilet’, which is an automated public sanitation solution in line with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. This initiative was duly showcased at the UN Innovation exhibition and recognised by the United Nations country representative for its game changing potential.
12 million users
The patented e-Toilet has had more than 12 million users till date and an average of 15,000 daily users. Eram Scientific Solutions has already won more than 44 national and international accolades for its inspiring contributions in introducing high-end, future proof and scalable technology in the sanitation space. Dr Ahmed also received the Toilet Titan award from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Safaigiri Summit in 2015, a salute to the Eram work ethos and the dedication of its 8,000 plus employees from over 20 plus countries.
Unwavering commitment
Lauding Dr Ahmed’s unwavering commitment to addressing the critical challenges faced by humanity, Dr Sayeed noted that the company’s innovative products and services had made many Smart Cities safer, cleaner, smarter and prouder making him a worthy recipient of this eminent award.
Gratitude
Expressing his gratitude to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the honour and thanking the Pravasi Divas committee, not to mention Dr Sayeed and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Dr Ahmed took this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of having a strong base.
Strong partnerships
“Thanks to strong partnerships, the unwavering commitment of our team, and their industry, Eram Scientific Solutions has installed 4,000+ eToilets across India, Kuwait, Nepal and the MENA region over the years. Being headquartered in the Middle East where foresight and change are encouraged is a plus. Initiatives like the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 or the UAE’s hosting of Expo 2020 have buoyed Eram Group’s mission and with the support of regional government entities, we are looking forward to extending our footprint in the Kingdom and across the GCC with our innovative approach to infrastructure development.”
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