From the sunny beaches of Goa to the mighty Himalayas, tourist destinations across the country have one thing in common — the generation of plastic waste. Kaziranga — a world heritage site in Assam, home to the rare one-horned Rhinoceros — is no different. The national park sees an immeasurable amount of discarded plastic waste including bottles, bags, and food wrappers.
Using an innovative approach to tackle this, Rupjyoti Saikia Gogoi (47), a native of the area, collects this waste and weaves it in traditional handlooms to make handbags, doormats, table mats, and other furnishing products. She has also trained thousands of women in upcycling the waste, which has helped them earn a livelihood.
“I started the venture, Village Weaves, in 2004, because the plastic waste around the lanes of my home was becoming a disturbing sight. While thinking of creative ways to use the waste, I decided to try weaving it like I would do bamboo. I followed simple techniques, and integrated…