Mysuru, Oct. 15 – M.B. Mahesh and L. Sudhakar, faculty members from Excel Public School (EPS) have won first prize at My Mysuru Ideathon: Ideas for Future for their innovative project “Ahara Dhaara,” a smart, automated ration distribution system designed to reform Mysuru’s Public Distribution System (PDS).

The Ideathon, part of the My Mysuru Vision 2030 initiative led by MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, seeks to crowdsource citizen-led solutions for building a smarter, sustainable, and inclusive Mysuru. The 2025 edition drew over 2,500 entries, shortlisted to 340, then 100 finalists, culminating in a Grand Finale on Sept. 20, where top 10 teams presented before an eminent jury chaired by Yaduveer Wadiyar.

Representing Team Rationease, the Excel Public School duo presented their project “Ahara Dhaara” under Smart Infrastructure and Mobility category. The idea proposes a fully automated ration distribution kiosk that uses RFID cards, biometric verification and OTP-based access to enable secure, 24×7 collection of rations, reducing corruption, improving accessibility and restoring dignity to beneficiaries.

“Winning My Mysuru Ideathon has been an incredibly rewarding experience not just as recognition, but as validation that technology can truly simplify lives when it’s built with empathy,” said Mahesh and Sudhakar adding “Ahara Dhaara was born out of everyday challenges we saw around us, and this win inspires us to take it further from concept to a working model that can bring pride and dignity to how citizens access essential services.”

The team received the Winner’s Trophy and Rs.25,000 cash prize from Yaduveer.

Organisers and civic representatives have expressed interest in supporting a pilot implementation of Ahara Dhaara, in line with Vision 2030’s goal of integrating community-driven ideas into actionable city projects.

“Ahara Dhaara reflects the culture of innovation we nurture at Excel Public School where creativity, technology, and social responsibility converge to address real-world challenges,” said K.G. Mathew, Principal, Excel Public School.

D. Sudhanva, Chairman and MD of Excel Group, said, “Ahara Dhaara truly reflects the spirit of innovation and social impact that defines Excel Public School’s ethos. We are proud of our faculty.”