‘Waste to wealth’ is an idea that is gaining credence with numerous examples of enterprising people giving a new lease of life to discarded things through recycling and upcycling.
However, it does not just stop with being a means of income generation. Participants at a workshop in Puducherry on Friday discovered that ‘waste to wealth’ can also translate into creative engagement for the intellectually-disabled, and a means to revive handloom.
At the ‘waste to wealth’ workshop organised by the Department Of Science, Technology and Environment (DSTE) and Puducherry Pollution Control Committee as part of the World Environment Day celebrations, six NGOs presented their work in tune with the theme this year which asks people to ‘consume with care.’ Participants included 60 Self Help Groups (SHGs), officials from Department of Women and Child Development, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), representatives from corporate organisations and financing institutions Nabard and Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank.
DSTE Director M. Dwarakanath said, “The workshop aims at taking the ideas of the six NGOs to the SHGs so that they can consider the possibility of replicating them in their areas. We have brought on board Nabard and Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank so that the SHGs can look at financing options available to them. Corporates can also look at such recycling activities for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes.”
Ultrust Solutions (ULTrust), an e-waste recycler based in Chennai, made a presentation on their activities, explaining how carbon is extracted and made into pellets. Chennai-based Sumithra Prasad of NGO DORAI Foundation which works with special children and makes various products out of upcycled plastic bottles and cardboard packaging explained how art therapy helps those with special needs.
Satya Special School in Puducherry which also works with special children showed mats, bags and stationery items made from upcycled tetra pak cartons at the school. Satya Special School director Chitra Shah also spoke about recycling flowers to make Rangoli powder and Holi colours which was being done in the school.
Sudha from Exnora Green Pammal in Chennai showed videos of their work where plastic from bags and water packets were put through handloom machines to make a tough material which was then used to make bags, folders and other items. “Our activities help to revive dwindling cottage industries, and gives employment opportunities to artisans and SHGs,” she said.
The team from Nature Eco Products from Puducherry demonstrated products made from natural fibres like sambu, kora, banana fibre, palm fibre and jute, using handloom. They promised to help train interested SHGs.
C. Ganeche from the Centre for Environment and Agricultural Development in Puducherry took participants through vermicomposting, while Uma Gurumurthy, District Development Manager, Nabard spoke about schemes available for starting micro enterprises.
The DSTE has plans to set up a resource centre along with the DRDA which will provide assistance and technical know-how to SHGs to set up such green ventures in Puducherry, said Mr. Dwarakanath.
