Kolkata, Jan 25 (IANS) Recycling flowers offered for worship into incense sticks and rosewater through the application of science and technology has paved the way to empower rural women in Lucknow and also mitigate pollution in the vicinity.
Under a project named 'Mission Sakshama' initiated by the Lucknow based CSIR's premier laboratory Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), women are being trained to utilise the huge quantities of flowers that are thrown away to rot which could pose a health and environmental hazard.
Flowers like genda (Tagetes) are used to make incense sticks, while roses are converted to rose water.
Besides incense and rosewater, the flowers are incorporated into herbal products.
"On an average 1,500 agarbattis (incense) can be made from one kg of raw material (filling material as flower powder and binding material) through the technology provided by the institute," A.K. Singh of CSIR-CIMAP told IANS.
The project that has been running for the last four years, has enabled women to work in their free time after completing household chores.
This has provided an extra way to generate income.
They have the option to sell the products in bulk in wholesale markets or directly retail from their own shops.
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