Nagpur: What was once left to wilt is now set to bloom as a livelihood opportunity as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is rolling 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 an idea to recycle the heaps of discarded flowers from local markets into value-added goods like gulkand, agarbatti, dhoopbatti, attar, natural dyes and room fresheners. This 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, which is one of the city's busiest, to meet flower vendors and assess the scale of daily waste.

Speaking with vendors, Vaishnavi B emphasised 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 grass roots," 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 organisations to fast-track implementation.

Flower sellers expressed enthusiasm, noting how tons of unused flowers go waste. With proper collection and processing, this initiative could breathe new life into what was once tossed aside, they said. Vaishnavi B was accompanied by civic officials, including Ranjana Lade from the Social Development Department, chief sanitation officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle, social welfare officer Vinay Trilokwar, and Kavita Dambhare of the Flight Institute.