What was once left to wilt is now set to bloom as a livelihood opportunity, as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) rolls out a fresh initiative that transforms floral waste into income-generating products, led entirely by women's self-help groups (SHGs).
At the heart of this plan is the idea of recycling heaps of discarded flowers from local markets into value-added goods like gulkand, agarbatti, dhoopbatti, attar, natural dyes, and room fresheners. This initiative would not only help tackle the city's growing waste problem but also plant the seeds of entrepreneurship among local women.
On Tuesday, NMC additional commissioner Vaishnavi B visited Sitabuldi's Netaji flower market, one of the city's busiest, to meet with flower vendors and assess the scale of daily waste.
Speaking with vendors, Vaishnavi B emphasized the power of waste-to-wealth innovation. 'This isn't just about managing waste. It's about creating dignity, income, and independence for women who are ready to lead change from the grassroots,' she said. The proposed SHG cluster will receive support for training, raw materials, production techniques, and product marketing. NMC also plans to partner with environmental and women's organizations to fast-track implementation.
Read more at Times of India
