5th March 2016

- The Hindu

Son of fireworks unit worker develops safety device

A 13-year-old boy, who doesnt even have the luxury of footwear and studies in class IX, at a government high school in Sivakasi, the hub of firework factories in Tamil Nadu, developed a fire safety device so that his mother, a labourer at a fireworks factory, remains safe.

The diminutive M Jayakumar, accompanied by his science teacher Karunaidas, was felicitated by Beyond Carlton at their sixth memorial day in Bengaluru on Saturday. The boy was not well-versed in English, but spoke impeccable Tamil and had the audience enthralled with his knowledge, for which he earned a standing ovation.

“The device works based on an alarm circuit completed by a heat sensor. One of the main reasons for fire accidents is friction, which will increase the temperature. Any rise in the room temperature will trigger this device,” said Jayakumar. The device is not just an alarm; the circuit is connected to a water tank and a motor, which will sprinkle water in the factory, dousing the fire. Three years ago, Jayakumars mother Panjavarnam had sustained severe burn injuries in an accident at a fireworks factory. That had a lasting impact on the young boy. Karunaidas, his science teacher was discussing a project to develop a mobile app to alert the fire service and police station of fire mishap in the fireworks factories in Sivakasi.

He recalled that Jayakumar stood up in the class questioned the use of such an app.

“He said the focus should be to prevent mishaps, which changed the projects focus altogether,” recalled Mr. Karunaidas.

The fire safety device is not his first project. He had developed an LPG gas leak alarm two years ago, based on the same principle, with a gas sensor.

The project won him national recognition.