Students of Guru Nanak College prepare products for healthcare and hygiene amidst pandemic

Keeping the need of the hour in mind, students produced hand sanitisers as per WHO’s guidelines and in different fragrances

Students of the Department of Biotechnology of the Guru Nanak College have prepared a variety of healthcare products like hand sanitisers, face wash, soaps, hand wash and herbal lip balms. These products have been made by the students as part of their outreach initiative and responding to the health and hygiene situation prevailing in the country.

Going an extra mile in their contribution towards the environment also, the students made paper bags from waste newspapers collected from the college library.

In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic across the globe and as India is one of the most severely affected countries, hand sanitisers have become an important item to be carried everywhere and by everyone. Keeping the need of the hour in mind, students produced hand sanitisers as per the World Health Organisation’s guidelines and in different fragrances. They used essential oils including Peppermint, Lavender, Rosemary, Tea tree oil, Lemon grass and Peach, which are known for antimicrobial properties and also have beautiful fragrances.

The students were ably guided in preparation of hand sanitisers by their faculty in-charge Assistant Professors Dr M Mahendrakumar and A Amala Lourthuraj, along with lab technicians Mr D Rajkumar and Harvinder Singh. Third year BSc student Varathaganesh, V Akash and Ajai also assisted the team.

Other important items on the list were hand wash and soaps. “Our students prepared the soaps with finest, fresh and natural ingredients blended with exotic fragrances to give a rich lather and soft supple skin,” said one of the professors incharge, Dr P Mahalakshmi.

In order to add variety to their products, students divided the soaps in vegetable-based, fruit-based and floral. The faculty in-charge, along with Dr. P.Mahalakshmi was Assistant Professor Dr. V. Lavanya. Priyadharshini, Acharya Anisha, Bhagyashree, Lavanya, Dhanisha, Akash and Nandhan Kalaivanan of third year B.Sc also assisted the team.

Another product made by the students was herbal face wash powder. Unlike the generally available face washes that contain micro plastic components, causing serious health issues and environmental pollution, Guru Nanak College students have kept their face wash fully natural and made entirely from herbal products.

About 200 hand sanitisers were sold by February 20

The herbal face wash powder has been prepared using natural components like Poolankilangu, Kachur White Turmeric Powder, Korai Kilangu Powder, Nut Grass, Paneer Rose petals, Tulasi powder, Sandalwood powder, Kasthuri manjal, Wild turmeric, Avarampoo, Senna, Dry Orange peel, Dry, Lemon peel, Magizhampoo and Spanish Cherry.

“Our herbal face wash powder is a benign and rejuvenating blend of select herbs and plant extracts combined with utmost care and precision that helps in deep cleansing of skin and prevents acne, facial hair growth and other skin problems,” says the faculty in-charge, Dr. Bharathi Ravikrishnan, Assistant professor and head of the department.

Several students of B.Sc, third year, Priyadharshini, Anisha, Bhagyashree, Lavanya, Dhanisha and Akash assisted the team.

Another exciting product, a herbal lip balm has also been prepared by the students with bee-wax, almond oil, coconut oil and beetroot extract flavoured with Strawberry essential oil.

The faculty in-charge was Dr. Bharathi Ravikrishnan, along with Priyadharshini, Anisha, Bhagyashree, Lavanya, Dhanisha and Akash, students of third year B.Sc.

Among the most popular products was the herbal hand sanitiser. About 200 hand sanitisers were sold by February 20. Students also sold over 100 hand-made soaps, which turned out to be the second most popular product.

About Guru Nanak College:

Pro Bono Publico is the motto of the college. It is the translation of the last sentence of the Sikh prayer “SarbatKaBhalla”, which means “For the benefit of all”. The Guru Nanak College was established in the year 1971 as a Unit of Guru Nanak Educational Society to mark the 500thbirthday of the great Shri Guru Nanak Devji, founder of the

Sikh Religion. The objective of the college is to spread the ideals of universal brotherhood, oneness of God, communal harmony and welfare to all communities. The college provides a quiet and ideal setting amidst natural surroundings. It is located on the Velachery-Tambaram Road within a verdant 20-acre campus gifted by the Government of TamilNadu for the development of an Arts & Science College. The institution admits students as per the government norms. To encourage gender equality in higher education, 30% of the total strength in each course is reserved for women students. Admission is open to trans-genders also. The College is a full-fledged Under graduate, postgraduate and Research institution.  It is recognized by the UGC, AICTE and the Govt. of Tamil Nadu. The College is ranked among the Top 10 colleges in Chennai. It is autonomous and affiliated to the University of Madras.