With the ever-growing pace at which this country has been developing, there are sectors in which exists a multitude of socio-economic, cultural, and humanitarian issues that have long withheld the progress of the country.
Water, the harbinger of life on the planet, is a resource that is rapidly depleting ever since it became susceptible to the ghastly claws of pollution.
"Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” – W.H. Auden
For years, rivers and streams have borne the brunt of urbanization. Did you know that one of the substantial polluting agents goes by the term ‘floral waste’?
Have you ever wondered what happens to the beautiful flowers that adorn the body of our gods and goddesses? Not long after these are utilized for religious worship of our deities, these very flowers devoted to religious offerings end up sulking in our water bodies.
“8 Million tonnes of floral waste in India are discarded every year amounting to one-third of the total solid waste.”
These worn-out flowers contaminate the water quality and the residue of pesticides used on the flowers percolates into the waters, thereby hampering our precious marine life.
Another compelling factor contributing to the hazard on the quality of water is the impurity caused by various dyeing and textile industries.
“The synthetic dyeing and textile industry is the third-largest consumer of water in the world, expending nearly 2.4 trillion gallons of water a year, and effusing over 70 toxic chemicals into the hydrosphere.”
Nearly 80% of the world’s wastewater is dumped into the environment. The untreated water discharged into the rivers befouls the water quality as the noxious substances degrade in water.
Thus, requiring the need to bring together a team of hardworking and dedicated people who come together bringing in a different set of ideologies but with the same goal in mind - to chase a better tomorrow and revive hope to overcome these challenges.
Enactus Aryabhatta – a student-led team of young entrepreneurs, aiming to tackle a myriad of social issues plaguing the society by taking imperative steps to bridge the chasm between the rich and the poor with education and employment opportunities, ensuring judicious use of resources, significantly reducing wastage, promoting recycling and working towards building a community that is socially, economically and environmentally sustained.
We all know what water pollution is but only a few know about the role floral waste plays in it. Enactus Aryabhatta introduced PROJECT PALAASH to tackle the grave issue of floral waste.
Project Palaash aims to utilize these flowers and create organic dyes which are purely non-synthetic in nature. These organic dyes are used on fabrics which creates employment opportunities for destitute community members. These entrepreneurs undergo skill development training for dyeing techniques such as tie and dye, ombre, clamping and block printing on fabrics.
The dupattas and scarves manufactured under project Palaash are sold directly to the customers through stalls set up at college fests, cultural fares, and handicraft outlets.
We have also extended our collaboration with Six Yard Story a premium artisanal brand which embraces traditionalism rooted in an Indian craft aesthetic. Central to their ethos is the empowerment of artisans and revival of the slow and sustainable fashion movement. The brand specialises in handloom and handcrafted sarees and stands for all things classic. We are delighted to be partnering with them.
We aim to uphold the trend of fashion by taking into account both environmental and socio-economic aspects by improving all the stages of production and recycling for the sustainable management of resources.
Under Project Palaash, we have successfully collaborated with a well-established NGO: STOP - Global Movement that was founded in 1998 during the Global March against Child Labor. STOP - Global Movement has been working towards the mission of rescuing victims of human trafficking and oppression by empowering them.
Determined for the wellbeing of these victims, they work dedicatedly starting from the prevention of human trafficking, rescuing, repatriation, capacity building, and rehabilitation to empowering their survivors by transforming them into self-sufficient social entrepreneurs.
Rising from the rubble, these people, determined to rise above the age-long struggles of the underprivileged society, endured the constrictions placed on them by the society - the divide between the rich and poor.
This was the stage where the unthinkable happened - the abstract was turned into an innovation by merging art with an environmental conscience and converting these members of the underprivileged community into innovative social entrepreneurs and this is their success story:
Manju, along with other diligent women extremely dedicated to making a difference with utmost perseverance were delighted to follow the pursuit of employment extended to them through the formulation of organic dyes from floral waste.
Enlightened by the ventures and prospects of Project Palaash, the members of Stop Global Movement realized that the floral waste which contributes to water pollution can be put to great use and draw sustainable measures for its blooming success.
“I live in a community that has always been deprived of employment opportunities. I believe that it is high time these people took it upon themselves to find their way out of these miserable conditions of living.” Said Manju.
These entrepreneurs undergo skill development training for dyeing and block printing on fabrics. These dupattas and scarves manufactured under project Palaash are sold directly to the customers through stalls set up at college fests, cultural fares, and handicraft outlets. The profit that is accumulated is earned by these entrepreneurs. This also facilitates the trend of sustainable fashion.
“The potential that this project carries has made it easier for our community members to learn the basic art of stitching and weaving as we are more familiar with these chores. Adding to these chores, we are even trained in the dyeing process. Now, I look forward to engaging more members to path this path to become independent and self-sustaining.” Said Rani.
Through project Palaash, they are empowered by providing them a source to learn and earn through basic skills. This has helped them providing education to their children as well.
This community has blossomed as the members are so driven to rise above that they have excelled in these skills and have successfully become the breadwinners of their family.
Every change begins with a thought and the success of which depends upon the depth of commitment, passion, willingness to embrace a new path, and determination to overcome the obstructions.
We, at Enactus Aryabhatta, work dedicatedly to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 through our projects with ingenuity.
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