Breaking new grounds in the prevention and control of mosquitoes, Finu Muhammad Shahim, hailing from Manipuram in Koduvally panchayat, will represent the state at the national-level Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) programme slated to be held at Prakruthi Maidan in New Delhi on October 8.
An eight standard student of MJHSS, Elattil, Finu will present a research project titled ‘A study to find out a suitable medicinal plant extract to destroy mosquito larva in Manipuram locality of Koduvally grama panchayat.’
Outstanding performance in the state-level INSPIRE, an innovative programme of the Department of Science and Technology that aims to attract talents to the study of science at an early age, made him eligible to represent the state. When contacted, Finu sounded quite enthusiastic and eager about the project presentation. “I did not think that I will be one of the 800 students competing for the national INSPIRE award,” says Finu. “It was my science teacher Sathi who made me capable of presenting such a topic before science enthusiasts,” he says.
According to Finu, the escalating death rate due to mosquito-borne diseases persuaded him to select the topic, that aims to kill mosquitoes in its premature stage. “It is our duty to destroy mosquitoes when theycause a huge medical and financial burden to people,” he says. To complete the research project, he sought the guidance of a traditional healer in Manipuram, Damodaran Vaidyar. “Damodaran Vaidyar helped me to identify several medicinal plants useful for my project.
The project also helped me to explore the world of medicinal plants,” says Finu. Sathi was an ineluctable part during Finu’s project preparation. “We were not sure about the success even in the state-level competition, but were confident that the project will be of great benefit to society as it deals with the most relevant issue faced by people in the state,” says Sathi.
Though she cannot accompany Finu to New Delhi, she has ensured that the boy is sure about various aspects of the project. Finu participated in the state-level competition after getting eligibility from the sub-district and revenue district-level competitions when he was a class VII student at Manipuram AUP School. His headmaster in MJHSS, A Muhammadali, says, “We find Finu good at studies and co-curricular activities.”. Finu, the eldest son of Junior Health Inspector in Puthuppady Primary Health Centre, Abdul Gafoor, and Ramla aspires to be a research scholar.