A young rural grassroots innovator (Student Entrepreneur), Srija, comes out with Eco-friendly Ganesha made from groundnut shells and agro waste!
Hyderabad, August 11, 2025 : A young rural innovator is demonstrating that faith and environmental responsibility can coexist harmoniously.
Srija, a B.Tech student from BVRIT-H and founder of Srija Green Galaxy Pvt. Ltd., has developed eco-friendly Lord Ganesha idols, biodegradable pots, teacups, and plates — all crafted from groundnut shells and agro-waste.
Her journey began with a simple observation during a school plantation drive, inspiring her to create biodegradable “Biopots.” Today, her Gadwal-based startup produces 100 pots daily and has expanded into creating Vinayaka idols and other eco-products.
Her eco-friendly idols were a runaway hit, selling out quickly at The August Fest— Asia’s largest celebration of dreamers and innovators, founded by Mr. Kiran Maverick. Her work has attracted adoption and orders from EPTRI (Environment Protection Training & Research Institute), NGOs, and other environmental organisations.
With support from TSIC, T-Works, and AGHUB, she received mentorship, idea validation, and a ₹4 lakh grant to scale her production unit.
“Out of 20 crore Ganesh idols made each year, only 1 crore are eco-friendly — the rest burden our rivers and seas,” says Srija. “Lord Ganesha removes obstacles. Let’s remove one for Him — let’s make all idols eco-friendly.”
Traditional Plaster of Paris idols release harmful chemicals and heavy metals during immersion, polluting water bodies and harming aquatic life. In contrast, her idols dissolve naturally, preventing water contamination and preserving aquatic ecosystems.
Her innovation even impressed Telangana’s IT & Industries Minister, D. Sridhar Babu, who personally bought an idol for ₹200 and praised her efforts.
August Fest served as the best platform to showcase their products, their innovations, especially the grassroots innovations, said Kiran.
