{
  "id": 3692908,
  "title": "She studied by kerosene lamp; at 17, her Rs 3,000 idea won a national award",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/she-studied-by-kerosene-lamp-at-17-her-rs-3-000-idea-won-a-national",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-27T02:24:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/people/she-studied-under-a-kerosene-lamp-in-a-mud-house-now-she-has-a-national-award-and-an-innovation-showcased-in-japan-how-17-year-old-pooja-pals-rupees-3000-idea-solved-a-common-farming-problem/articleshow/133554184.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pooja Pal’s journey from a small village in Uttar Pradesh to national recognition began with a simple observation - children coughing due to dust released by a nearby wheat-threshing machine. Growing up in a financially modest family, Pooja studied under a kerosene lamp before her family could afford a battery-powered bulb. With limited resources and support from her science teacher, Pooja developed a low-cost dust-free thresher model, using basic materials like tin and a fan to collect the dust. Despite facing mockery from her village, she persevered and submitted her project to the INSPIRE-MANAK programme, winning national recognition and showcasing her invention at a science exhibition. Pooja’s story gained further prominence when she traveled to Japan as part of a science exchange program. Later, her journey was featured in a documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where she was named a Mission Shakti role model in Uttar Pradesh. With her sights set on starting a small business after completing her education, Pooja aims to inspire her community and prove that potential lies within everyone, regardless of their circumstances.",
  "summary": "Emerging from a rural challenge, Pooja Pal invented a revolutionary dust-free thresher and garnered significant national attention. This achievement opened doors for her to participate in a science exchange program in Japan, while her journey was prominently showcased in a documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pooja is steadfast in her educational pursuits while nurturing her…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}