Shaurya Pawar

Shaurya Pawar (14), from India, was moved by seeing how a world built mainly for sighted people leaves visually impaired people isolated and limited. He noticed that traditional mobility aids weren’t “smart” enough to give real independence in busy urban environments—and decided to do something about it.

Combining empathy with engineering, Shaurya developed the Smart Band Cap, a wearable device that uses sensors to detect obstacles, helping visually impaired children move more safely and confidently. He didn’t stop at building the technology—he took his message to major platforms like Eureka! Junior at IIT Bombay, where he championed the idea of “Inclusive Business,” showing that accessible design can be a smart, sustainable innovation rather than just charity. He also used science exhibitions to raise awareness about the everyday challenges faced by visually impaired people.

With his family’s support—helping with transportation, sourcing materials, and scheduling—Shaurya has reached between 500 and 2,000 people through competitions like IIT Bombay Eureka! and IIT Madras (E-21), turning awareness into real support for inclusive technology and safer mobility for children with disabilities.