Akshata Sharma
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Feeling lost and lonely after her children went to college, Dr. Poonam Singh from Gurgaon found a new purpose in an unexpected place: a temple.
Seeing floral waste discarded, she co-founded Aaruhi Enterprises with Pinki Yadav in June 2019. They transform floral waste into eco-friendly products like incense sticks, diyas, and idols. Every month, they recycle 1,000 kg of floral waste and earn over Rs 2 lakh.
Poonam has trained over 3,000 women in creating these products, using 80% floral waste, free of charcoal. She collects waste from 15 temples in Delhi-NCR, getting 100 kg every three days. Besides dhoop, her bestsellers include idols and air fresheners, priced between Rs 50-350.
Her venture employs five women, the 'flower recyclers,' and aims to stop flowers from ending up in garbage bins. For Poonam, this business not only built her identity but also made a significant environmental and social impact.
Her dream is to make India a country where not even one religious place throws flowers in the garbage.
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