Waste to livelihood: DU students collect flowers dumped in yamuna, turn it into organic dyes
NEW DELHI: Students of Delhi University’s Aryabhatta College have collected and removed over 200 kg of waste floral material from the Yamuna river and converted it into organic dye for clothes. Along with reducing the harmful effects of pollution in the Yamuna, the effort also aims to provide a source of livelihood to marginalised sections of society.
Romana Aamir, co-project head of Enactus at Aryabhatta, said that many were unaware of what happened to the flowers used in places of wo. “The old flowers contaminate the water and the residue of pesticides used on the blooms percolates into the waters, hampering the precious aquatic life,” she said.
Aamir said that these dyes also give marginalised community members a source of living. These members are trained to become entrepreneurs and 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 also extended our collaboration with an organisation Six Yards Story to facilitate the promotion of sustainable fashion,” stated Sahej Kapoor, another student member of the project.
The project has also collaborated with an NGO named STOP - Global Movement that was founded in 1998 and helps in rescuing victims of human trafficking and oppression by empowering them.
Co-project head Mohit Rohilla said that the group has produced and sold items with over 142 kgs of cotton and 201 kgs of floral waste since June 2020. “This has also averted over 4,700 liters of chemical pollution,” he said.
This effort earned them accolades as the group was selected among the Top 4 teams under the globally funded worldwide competition known as ‘1 Race 4 Ocean’ and won the top position among 101 projects submitted from 83 teams across 18 different countries.
Romana Aamir, co-project head of Enactus at Aryabhatta, said that many were unaware of what happened to the flowers used in places of wo. “The old flowers contaminate the water and the residue of pesticides used on the blooms percolates into the waters, hampering the precious aquatic life,” she said.
The student added that many of her peers were also concerned about the quality of water that gets affected by the impurities in the various dyeing and textile industries. The students then came up with project Palaash that utilises old flowers to make purely non-synthetic dyes.
Aamir said that these dyes also give marginalised community members a source of living. These members are trained to become entrepreneurs and 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 also extended our collaboration with an organisation Six Yards Story to facilitate the promotion of sustainable fashion,” stated Sahej Kapoor, another student member of the project.
The project has also collaborated with an NGO named STOP - Global Movement that was founded in 1998 and helps in rescuing victims of human trafficking and oppression by empowering them.
Co-project head Mohit Rohilla said that the group has produced and sold items with over 142 kgs of cotton and 201 kgs of floral waste since June 2020. “This has also averted over 4,700 liters of chemical pollution,” he said.
This effort earned them accolades as the group was selected among the Top 4 teams under the globally funded worldwide competition known as ‘1 Race 4 Ocean’ and won the top position among 101 projects submitted from 83 teams across 18 different countries.
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