India, March 17 -- In a city where the Air Quality Index (AQI) frequently breaches the 'severe' category, clean air is often a luxury reserved for those who can afford high-end appliances. But for Saahir Puri, a Grade 11 student at Pathways School Gurgaon, the right to breathe shouldn't come with a price tag.

Bridging the gap between civic apathy and frugal innovation, Puri has successfully designed, manufactured, and installed 30 low-cost DIY air purifiers at the Vidya School, an NGO in Gurugram that serves underprivileged children.

The project, titled "PureLife," was born out of a personal struggle. Having battled respiratory issues since the age of three, Puri was acutely aware of the health crisis posed by the NCR smog. However, he ...