Textile recycling drive uplifts Navi Mumbai women

AI generated image Mumbai : A quiet revolution is unfolding in Navi Mumbai’s Belapur – one that converts old clothes into new livelihoods - and transforms the lives of over 150 women participating in it. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), has set up India’s first municipal Textile Recovery Facility (TRF) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0” – empowering many humble home-makers and other women to rewrite their futures. Working in the TRF...

min read

Textile recycling drive uplifts Navi Mumbai women

AI generated image Mumbai : A quiet revolution is unfolding in Navi Mumbai’s Belapur – one that converts old clothes into new livelihoods - and transforms the lives of over 150 women participating in it. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), has set up India’s first municipal Textile Recovery Facility (TRF) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0” – empowering many humble home-makers and other women to rewrite their futures. Working in the TRF initiatives linked to textile recovery and upcycling, now the women earn between Rs 9,000-Rs 15,000 – catapulting them from the socio-economic margins into a growing ‘green economy’- gaining skills, confidence and financial independence. The TRF’s pilot project has so far reached more than 1.15 lakh families and connected with over 350 housing societies through awareness drives and workshops. At the heart of this are Self Help Groups (SHGs), where women are trained, supported and encouraged to build their own micro-enterprises, said a NMMC official, preferring anonymity. “At least 300 women of different age groups, mostly semi-literate and from lower-middle-class strata of society, have completed intensive training modules. They are now experts at identifying different fabrics, repairing them creatively, and selling their beautifully recycled products through different platforms,” the official told The Perfect Voice . The Belapur TRF is a sight to behold – there are piles of dirty, old, worn and torn saris, uniforms, sheets, denims and other fabrics. The teams of women carefully sort, assess, clean, and repurpose each clothing into something new, using a mix of hands-on expertise and technology. They decide what can be reused, recycled, or upcycled into a new product adding value to it, the official said. The results are both practical and stunning – there are stacks of new bags, mats, pouches, garments, home décor, paper and other useful items born from their skilled hands – adding to a range of more than 400 such products. There is no shortage of raw material as the three-month-old initiative has collected 30 tonnes textile waste, scientifically sorted over 25 tonnes, processed more than 41,000 items or 500 daily – diverting a significant volume away from landfills and ultimate waterbodies. The waste collection is decentralized – 140 branded textile bins are placed in housing societies in eight NMMC Wards, with a target of 250 bins in the next few weeks – ensuring quick access and citizen involvement, thereby indirectly contributing to improving the lives of the women and SHGs silently ushering in the eco-friendly revolution. To promote awareness and exploit the markets, the TRF has participated in 30-plus exhibitions, and multiple public awareness events on the benefits of repurposing textile wastes using hand-held scanners, digital tracking and other resources – while pushing forward the PM’s dreams of Smart Cities Mission and Sustainable Development Goals. Another TRF in Koparkhairane Buoyed by the success of the Belapur pilot, the NMMC plans to open a permanent, higher capacity TRF in Koparkhairane soon. Since India generates an estimated 7.8 million tonnes of textile wastes each year, experts feel this could be trendsetter both in terms of environmental impact and generating dignified employment for the marginalized sections of society. There were many early cynics, critics and challenges, but through a steady outreach, consistent engagement, deploying fibre-scanning technology and sheer dedication of the women helped iron out the teething problems to help materialise the dreams in NMMC.

Purvodaya Scheme: Linking Industry, Connectivity, and Tourism

Dipti Sawant
Feb 14
3 min read

Purvodaya aims to strengthen tourism potential and enhance connectivity in East and Northeast India.

The Government of India has recently launched the Purvodaya Scheme to promote economic and tourism development in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country. The scheme aims to strengthen tourism potential and enhance connectivity under the East Coast Industrial Corridor, with Durgapur emerging as a key connecting node.

The initiative focuses on five major states—Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh—and includes the deployment of nearly 4,000 electric buses (e-buses) to improve sustainable transportation. In addition, the scheme has been specially designed to promote the Buddhist tourism circuit across Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. As stated by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, the programme will cover the preservation of temples and monasteries, the establishment of pilgrimage interpretation centres, and the development of essential pilgrim amenities.

Tourism Potential of the Seven Sisters

The northeastern states, popularly known as the “Seven Sisters of India”—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura—represent a unique blend of rich cultural heritage, biodiversity, and scenic natural landscapes.

Arunachal Pradesh is known for its spectacular landscapes, rivers, and religious sites such as Tawang Monastery, one of the most important Buddhist centres in India. Although tourism growth has been moderate, it continues to attract cultural and nature-based tourists.
Assam is famous for Kaziranga National Park, Brahmaputra River cruises, tea gardens, and cultural heritage. It remains the largest contributor to tourism in the Northeast, with steady growth in both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.
Manipur, known for Loktak Lake, rolling hills, and cultural festivals, has experienced a sharp decline in tourist visits in recent years, presenting challenges for tourism development.
Meghalaya offers major ecotourism attractions such as Balpakram and Nokrek Biosphere Reserve and has recorded consistent growth in both domestic and international tourism.
Mizoram is characterised by dense forests, tribal culture, and adventure tourism and has emerged as the fastest-growing tourism destination in the region.
Nagaland, known for the Hornbill Festival and vibrant tribal traditions, shows gradual growth in tourism.
Tripura is recognised for its historical temples and cultural heritage and has witnessed strong growth in domestic tourism.

Tourist Growth Trend (in million visitors)

State	2014	2019	2023–25	Trend
Assam	4.3	6.7	7.5+	Strong growth
Meghalaya	0.6	1.2	1.5+	Steady growth
Tripura	0.3	0.5	0.6+	Good growth
Mizoram	0.1	0.2	0.5	Fastest growth
Arunachal	0.15	0.3	0.25	Moderate
Nagaland	0.1	0.15	0.13	Slow
Manipur	0.2	0.17	0.02	Sharp decline

Overall, tourism in Northeast India has more than doubled since 2014. Domestic

Tourist visits increased from approximately 7 million in 2014 to 12.5 million in 2023, while foreign tourist arrivals reached over 221,000 in 2023. Assam contributes the highest share of tourism revenue, followed by Meghalaya and Tripura. Mizoram and Nagaland show growing potential, while Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur continue to record relatively lower revenues due to limited tourist footfall.

E-Buses in Promoting Tourism

The introduction of electric buses under the Purvodaya Scheme plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable and green tourism. E-buses provide clean, comfortable, and

affordable transport, improving connectivity to tourist destinations. They reduce carbon emissions, protect environmentally sensitive regions, and align with ecotourism.

policies. Moreover, cities adopting e-buses are perceived as modern, smart, and sustainable, which enhances their attractiveness to both domestic and international tourists.

The Purvodaya Scheme, supported by infrastructure development and sustainable mobility solutions such as e-buses, has significant potential to transform.

Tourism in Eastern and Northeastern India. With proper implementation, the region can emerge as a major hub for cultural, religious, and eco-tourism, contributing

substantially to economic growth and regional development.

(Writer is a Mumbai based Finance expert. Views personal.)