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Reduce, reuse and recycle: A conversation with Priti Rao

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Priti Rao lives by the adage “Waste not want not.”.  Shen believes that “waste” must become a resource — to be reworked, reused, and upcycled. Priti’s efforts in producing bio enzymes have now made her one of the foremost experts in the world. she believes that all of us as world citizens have a responsibility to make the world a safe and healthy place for ourselves and future generations. Read my conversation with her on womenuninterrupted.in

Priti,  it is a privilege to feature you on this blog. Much of what you are now, your determination and grit have been shaped by your childhood. Tell us about yourself.

I feel very privileged and proud that I am from a defence background. As a child, we lived in so many different locations. I was exposed to various communities and their cultures and practices. I changed schools every three years.  That was not easy but it made me very flexible and adaptable. We celebrated all festivals and were open to eating various cuisines. Our family would go through a transfer every few years and it was a monumental task to pack and move to another city.  With each transfer, I had to go to a new school and make friends yet again. But it made me very resilient and accepting of change. It also allowed me to see places as a child – Rajasthan, Jammu, Meghalaya, etc and experience the wonder and beauty of new environments. We also learned the art of co-dependence and connecting with people in the services. Our neighbours and friends were always available for us as were we. There was also a certain sense of discipline and structure that was inculcated, which has been of great help to me later in life.

As a young adult, you lived your life to the fullest. Besides the conventional path of academics and then a career, you engaged in several other activities.

I engaged in several activities during my years in college in Bangalore . I enrolled myself in the NCC (National Cadet Corps) Air Wing. They usually don’t enroll girls in the Airwing.  Only 10 percent of those enrolled were girls. In Bangalore, we were about 20 girls and 200 boys. They trained us in paragliding, parasailing, marching in parades, aircraft flying sorties, etc. It developed character, discipline, leadership,  and a spirit of adventure in me. I also think it planted the seeds of engaging in social service. My cadet friends and I used to go to the airfield at Jakkur almost every day. We had to be there very early and I don’t remember ever getting irritated about that. I loved spending my time with my NCC friends, it was like a second home to me.  Though we got attendance, I also had to juggle my studies. I went to the Republic Day Parade in 1995 and got a gold medal from the then Prime Minister, Narasimha Rao.

When I started a new job, my friend and I would pack up and travel over the weekend. I was able to explore Karnataka in detail. I connected with local people and my native state. I would also just take a bus or a train and get off at a station or a bus stop at random and explore the area.  I joined a  horse-riding club close to my office. I would leave early in the morning at around 5 am. for the practice ( cantering, galloping, etc.) and then go to work. It was a wonderful experience. It kept me very active and made me use muscles I had never used before.

This continued even after I got married and had a job.  I lived in the UK for a brief period. I would along with my infant son,  board a bus or train and visit various places in the UK. I did not wait around for my husband to accompany me. Even later, when I took my son to karate classes, I decided to do something different. Instead of sitting with the other mothers who accompanied their children, I decided that I would also take up Karate. My son and I were classmates. I continued for eight years and got my black belt. I also began to do yoga and did yoga teacher training at the Bihar school of yoga.

How did your journey as an earth warrior start?

When I came back from the  UK, I wasn’t sure that I could get back into a 9-to-5 job. I did not want to work in a corporate. I had worked in one for over a decade, but it gave me no satisfaction. The mindless consumption and the pressure and tension and the need to adhere to impossible deadlines did not appeal to me, but I did not want to stay at home.  It took me five years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. During this period, I observed many things. I found that we as humans are wasteful and consume so many things. We blame the poor for the garbage and unsanitary conditions, but the rich and the educated are equally responsible for the mindless generation of waste. I wanted to save the environment, but did not know what I wanted to focus on and the form it would take.

It all started with the garbage bin.  Like everybody else, I would place the bin outside my door. A lady pushing a heavy cart would come every day to pick up the wet waste. Every day the lady would get annoyed and complain about the waste not being segregated properly and about the amount that was generated. I couldn’t blame her because she had the unenviable task of pushing a  heavy cart. I decided that I couldn’t be a part of this and needed to understand what was happening.

I studied the entire process- how garbage was generated and by whom, what were the types of garbage and where did it go. I got into composting to reduce and recycle the waste I was generating.

But you wanted to invest in more than just composting and recycling your wet waste. What were your next steps?

I began to explore the concept of Sustainable living. (Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth’s natural resources by an individual or society).   As a society, we are wasteful and consume so much. We go to the supermarket every day and buy packaged and processed food products. And the wastage is huge. That was a trigger point for me. I researched the dangers of processed food readily available off the shelves and discovered that they had high salt and sugar content, which could affect our health.  So not only do we consume chemicals and harmful substances, but we also play a key role in poisoning the surrounding ecosystem. I stopped buying store-made products such as biscuits, chocolates, etc. In addition, I decided that I would also start growing my own food. There was a time when I was growing forty varieties of vegetables and 25 varieties of herbs on my terrace. When you are growing your food, you are in control of every step of the growing process — from seed selection and soil and pest management to responsible consumption, harvesting, low wastage, and composting.  I installed a bio-gas plant that converted wet waste into cooking gas and installed Solar panels to generate electricity. I began to harvest rainwater. With these simple practices, I not only reduced my consumption and overall carbon footprint.

I analysed my dry waste and found that most of it was plastic from the packaging of processed foods, and bottles used in shampoos and liquid soaps. If we take a look at our shopping bag, most of it is packaged foods and personal care items. I wanted to reverse this ratio. How do we change this? I tried my best to eliminate packaging and non-biodegradable waste by choosing food with no plastic packaging, always carrying a reusable bag, buying local products, and refilling containers to reduce plastic waste. I then discovered the use of bio-enzymes & stopped using chemical-based cleaners at home.  I began experimenting with bio enzymes and that was a turning point in my life.

Bio enzymes is a term that has gained a lot of popularity in recent years. But you have been working and producing bio enzymes for more than a decade now. Tell us a little about bio enzymes and what they mean to you.

Bio-enzymes are organic solutions produced through fermentation of organic waste including various fruits, vegetable peels, and flowers, by mixing in sugar, jaggery/molasses, and water. So essentially, bio enzymes come from our kitchen waste. It takes 60-100 days to ferment organic waste. To fasten the fermentation, yeast can be used as a culture to prepare it in 45-50 days.  . It is so simple to make that everyone can make their own in their homes. It is best made with citrus peels, but many people make use of peels of carrot, cucumber, and lettuce too which criminally end up in the trash. The idea was first introduced by Dr. Rosukon Poompanvong, the founder of the Organic Agriculture Association of Thailand. from Thailand.

I saw a video of  Dr. Joean Oon, an environmentalist from Malaysia on bio enzymes and was inspired to try making it.  I found that it was a simple process. I made it in the kitchen. Initially, there was some scepticism from the family. They were afraid that there would be some odour.  But I proved them wrong. I started making bio enzyme in larger quantities and sharing it with my friends. I also taught them to make it.  We started doing it from lemon peels as the smell of lemons connoted freshness and appealed to lots of people. I was amazed at the versatility of this product and was amazed at its many uses.

It can clean and disinfect all surfaces in the house., it is very effective in removing limescale on taps and other steel appliances, breaks down grease and grime effectively from utensils, and de-clogs drains very effectively. It is also a natural pesticide and herbicide and naturally purifies groundwater. It is also very effective in cleaning polluted lakes.

So eventually you decide that your interest needs to move from a personal sphere to a public domain. You decided to start your foundation.

Producing bio enzymes became a priority for me and I wanted to share this information with others.  Soil and Soul Foundation was conceived around this time. . We started with basic workshops for children and adults. The focus was on sustainable living and the need to preserve the environment.  We also talked about bio enzymes and the benefits it provides. We curated an experiential learning program for a leading school in Bangalore. The idea was to create awareness and ownership among students, staff, management, parents & local administration about managing the waste generated in the school and at home. We developed a holistic curriculum with an emphasis on fun-filled, hands-on learning to bring about behavioural changes.

We also provided training internationally. The Frankfurt University of Applied Science invited Soil and Soul to deliver a workshop on Sustainable Alternatives at their campus in Frankfurt, Germany. Mechanical Engineering students attended the session to understand the issues concerning Waste and Sustainable choices. Knowledge Transfer sessions were conducted on how to prepare bio enzymes and their application.

I intended to educate people and train them to make bio enzymes. But the conversion rate was low. So, we also decided to produce bio enzyme in large quantities and market it. This required me to get a certification for the product.

Tell us about your latest venture,  the Bio enzyme Entrepreneur Academy

The Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurs Academy provides a space for producers and researchers to promote research and promote bio enzymes and educate and train entrepreneurs who are interested in working in this area. We hope to encourage communities and civic bodies to accept and adopt practices such as  Bio-Enzymes, Bio-Compost, and Bio-Gas to enable a cleaner environment and sustainable living.  We work at the grass root level – focused on waste management, and regenerating soil and water ecosystems. At the Bio enzyme entrepreneur academy, we have researchers and scholars who engage in studying bio enzymes and their benefits.  At present, we are collaborating with researchers from Holkar College in Indore. We also have bio enzyme banks in different parts of the country to clean up lakes and rivers.  We are also conducting field trials to determine the effectiveness of the application of bio-enzymes on various crops. Data concerning the health of the soil, plant growth  & immunity are being collected and analysed.

As a part of your work, you also focus on River bank Stabilization. You have a project on the banks of the River Ganga, don’t you?

As a part of our Mission 10 Lac Project, we are now engaged in an ongoing effort to stabilize riverbanks in Munger, Bihar since Dec 2020. The objective is to limit the damages caused during floods, mainly – water contamination & soil erosion. The project is completely crowdfunded.

So far, we have planted one lakh tree saplings of native varieties along the river Ganga. In addition, five lakh Vetiver grass slips have also been planted. Vetiver grass plantation is a natural and economically viable alternative to brick-and-mortar engineering solutions for soil retention. It reduces erosion and carbon sequestration four times more than the tree. This is an immediate remedy as the top soil is not eroded. It also filters the water and takes away the heavy metals.

The project has a direct impact on the livelihood of the local communities. Our inclusive approach encourages the active participation of local communities, women, children, welfare groups & administration. We propose to do a similar project on the banks of the river Brahmaputra. We have also used Vetiver in Bangalore on seven lakes including the one in Lalbagh.

And my last question to you would be,  what would you say to a woman who wants to follow her dreams?

I would say go for it. We have one life and we should never be afraid of taking chances. I have been very lucky in that I got a lot of support from my husband and my family. My mother-in-law took care of the family and I got the opportunity to go out and do what I wanted to. The most important thing is not to wait, but to make a beginning and the rest will follow.

If you want to be a conscious earth warrior and give bio enzymes a try, check out the YouTube given below

“When you want something, and the whole universe conspires in order for you to achieve it” – A conversation with Gayatri Abraham

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It is said that life comes full circle when you stay the course. And that is what Gayatri Abraham did. She started her life and career unsure about what she wanted to do but was curious and opened herself to diverse experiences and narratives. Through this journey of exploration and learning that began with nutrition and anthropology, branched into marketing and public relations, and eventually culminated in counseling, she discovered a passion and realized a dream that would help close the circle and help and empower others in the process.

Please join me for a conversation with Gayathri that explores how life is a puzzle. When the pieces come together, they reveal a picture that can be meaningful for both us, others, and the world around us.


As a young person, you made very different academic choices from your peers.


I grew up in Mylapore in Chennai and went to Rosary Matric Convent. I had no idea what I wanted to do as a young girl. The traditional programs and courses did not appeal to me, so I moved school from Rosary, which offered conventional streams, to Adarsh Vidyalaya, which offered a course in Nutrition and Dietetics. After my graduation, the traditional opportunities in the nutrition space, which were few and far between, did not strike a chord in me.


The prospectus of the University of Madras mentioned a Master’s Course in Anthropology. At that point, it seemed like an obscure subject. Still, with some research, I realized that one could incorporate nutrition into an anthropological setting. The course opened up my mind to a world beyond Mylapore and Chennai.


For my thesis, I did research with the Betta Kurumbas. I explored their rituals, culture, livelihood options, and aspects such as kinship, relationships, lifestyle, etc. I studied their dietary habits – the food they grew and ate, nutrition (malnutrition) among women and children, etc. It was fascinating to see how nutrition connected to anthropology. Post my master’s, I worked on a project examining the reproductive health and rights of sex workers. It was a real eye-opener for me.

Post Masters, you chose to follow the conventional path as far as your career was concerned, but were there other personal choices that you made different?


After my studies, I had limited options. I chose to go into the hotel and lifestyle space sales and marketing. I did want to go abroad for further studies but did not have the funds to explore it. I got married in my late twenties, moved to Bangalore, and worked in a Public Relations firm. I found it interesting because one interacts with a diverse set of clients with a unique set of requirements. It was essential to understand specific industry sectors and then pitch different stories to the media. In March 2002, my husband and I made an informed choice to adopt our older daughter. With limited resources, my career took a backseat; it did not bother me then. I was ready to experience motherhood and be a full-time mother, which I thoroughly enjoyed. As a diversion from being a homemaker and mother, I took up a lot of small projects, organized jewelry and sari exhibitions, and even explored Tupperware and Oriflame.


A few years later, I adopted my second daughter. Though I was the primary caregiver for my children, I constantly looked for opportunities to hone my working skills. I worked with a publishing house doing sales, marketing, and press releases, in the admin department of an International University and a social enterprise. I also worked on an informal basis with child care agencies and interacted with parents interested in the adoption process. I was able to talk to them based on my experience.

We moved from Chennai to Bangalore again, and the first few years were difficult, and I had some personal issues to contend with. Moving and changing cities and schools took a toll on me.

But these difficult experiences led you to explore new avenues in life, didn’t they?

In 2015, I decided that I would do something different. I decided to start studying again. I started by doing a few courses on child and nutrition and social entrepreneurship on Coursera. It was time to consolidate and realign my work and personal goals. I wanted a sense of purpose in life that also gave me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.


I had several discussions with friends and mentors about what I could do. My initial plan was to run a child care home where I wanted to take in orphaned and underprivileged babies and children vulnerable to medical health conditions. One of my mentors discouraged me from starting an agency as it required a lot of effort and involved dealing with bureaucracy.


I finally decided to set up an organization focused on adoption, beginning with a website. My varied work experience through the years, and the entrepreneurship course on Coursera, helped me put together content and market it to the right audience. I had been skilling myself all these years without my knowledge.


So that was how Padme, your website on adoption, was born?


A crucial thing that happened in 2015 was that adoption went digital. Couples who were keen on adopting had to register online through the CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) website. While it has many pros, it took away that human and emotional connection parents previously had with the various adoption agencies and stakeholders. At that time, my idea for a website on adoption was crystallized.


Padme means Lotus. It is also synonymous with my personal experience in adoption and in my personal growth space. The root of the Lotus is in the muddy waters, but it nurtures the Lotus and provides the support it gets. Similarly, I hope Padme will provide the right environment for parents who want to adopt.


Padme is a one-stop site that provides details on the adoption process, real experiences of families who have gone through the process, and research articles on adoption. Padme also hopes to build a database of stakeholders – medical professionals (gynecologists and pediatricians), mental health experts, parents, and caregivers) and sensitize and create awareness to dispel myths and biases on adoption. Padme also enables parents to explore and adopt a new mindset to approach the adoption process and its nuances.


What is the USP of Padme? How is it different from other similar agencies in the adoption space?


I wanted to bring psychological aspects into the adoption space. We must address issues such as infertility, loss, societal compulsions for adoption, feelings of inadequacy as a parent/ mother, and reasons for adoption. It is essential to understand if adoption is a choice or a fall-back option. These need to be addressed before the parents make choices about adoption. It is also important to provide counseling for parents and empower them to look at the process of adoption from a child-centric perspective.
We counsel parents in their journey’s pre, current, and post-adoption phases. It is also necessary that parents vocalize their fears and concerns about adoption. We also partner with key stakeholders such as pediatricians, who play a vital role in adoption.
After the child comes home, the first point of contact is with the pediatrician. It is crucial that the pediatrician is nuanced, sensitized, and has a neutral, unbiased opinion about children from institutions. The professional needs to understand the developmental, nutritional, and emotional milestones of such a child and deal with parents with both sensitivity and empathy.


Your work with Padme led you into counseling, did it not?


I think being on the other side of the fence is essential. At Padme, we want to be neutral and unbiased and not judge the parent/ client who is seeking our help. I decided to train in counseling, so that my opinions were not coloured or distorted by personal experiences. I have done three courses with Parivarthan, a counseling, training, and research center in Bengaluru. Currently, I am pursuing a Masters in Family Therapy and Counselling.

Counseling has undoubtedly broadened my vision and opened my mind to issues beyond adoption. I now work partly with Parivarthan and counsel couples and individuals requiring counseling support. Due to the financial instabilities caused by the pandemic, I started working with a startup that does mental health programs with corporates. This experience made me realize the difficulties of getting back to mainstream work after a long break and at my age. I was given short shrift at work, and when things started to ease, I decided to quit and focus on Padme Foundation and my consultations with clients from Parivarthan alongside completing my course.


Tell us about your latest venture, KAGE Counseling.


I am encouraged by the success of Padme. I have decided to broaden my work to include holistic counseling and therapy. KAGE, which means shadow in Japanese, is a separate vertical broader in focus and comes under the Padme Foundation. KAGE is about recognizing, acknowledging, and working with our shadows. Besides the conventional forms of therapy and counseling, we also want to integrate alternate forms of healing. These may include somatic conditioning (this approach prioritizes the mind-body connection in treatment to help address physical and psychological symptoms), movement therapy, food therapy, yoga, mindfulness, etc., to provide a holistic approach.


In 2021, the UN mentioned mental health as an essential and pertinent aspect of health that impacts everyone. As we live in an unequal world, awareness and access to resources differ for everyone. KAGE is in its infancy, but I would like to make counseling accessible to all members of society, even those on the periphery. I would like to empower all individuals to overcome challenges and recognize and harness their immense potential. We want to be able to offer these sessions at a very minimal and affordable cost to those who do not have the financial resources to opt for support.


On a personal level, you are a practicing Buddhist. Tell us a little bit about that.

I met a lady who practiced Soka Gakkai (a Japanese Buddhist religious movement based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese priest Nichiren). The concept of chanting, central to Soka Gakkai practice, appealed to me. What is most interesting for me is how one can attain Buddhahood even in this lifetime. The universality of the concept resonates with what I do in my space of adoption and counseling.


If you were to look back at your life, do you feel life has come full circle?


Yes, it has (laughs…). It has been an organic growth. I have always been curious to learn and explore, not because it has a specific monetary value attached to it, but because I saw personal development in different spaces. Each piece in the puzzle has been unearthed. My focus on nutrition, anthropology, adoption, counseling, and my Buddhism practice have come together as components that fit into the whole. Each area is interconnected, and they come together seamlessly to bring me to this point in my life. When you are searching for something but are unsure about it and don’t know what it is, the Universe conspires and opens pathways for you to achieve it. One needs to recognize it and embrace it.

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