Invasive Water Hyacinth to Innovation & Income: HEAL’s Women-Led Initiative Wins at Subhadra Mela

11 February 2026

Celebrating women, sustainability and a well-deserved win at Chilika! 🎉

Award for transforming water hyacinth into opportunity

We are incredibly proud to share that a collective of women from fishing communities around Chilika Lake, has won an award at the Subhadra Mela, Khurda for their inspiring, sustainable enterprise using invasive water hyacinth.

What makes this recognition special is the journey behind it.

For generations, water hyacinth has threatened Chilika’s wetlands, choking fishing grounds and affecting livelihoods.

Women artisans displaying their hand-made products made out of invasive water hyacinth harvested from Chilika Lake at Subhadra Mela, Khurda

The women artisans won Best Innovation during the mela for their handicraft products made out of water hyacinth

Today, these women are turning that very challenge into opportunity. By removing the invasive weed from the lake and transforming it into beautiful handcrafted products. They are restoring the lake and building an independent source of income.

Piloted by HEAL and @thefishingcatproject, with support from @thehabitatstrust, this initiative brought together women from local self-help groups, who are being trained to convert water hyacinth into eco-friendly, biodegradable crafts for just about a year now.

HEAL along with The Fishing Cat Project has been training self-help group women around Chilika Lake to make water hyacinth products

The women feel proud of their work and happy that they have an additional source of income while aiding in saving the lake from water hyacinth

In such a short span of time, their work has reached melas and a newly opened souvenir shop near Chilika—earning both income and recognition.

“This work has given us confidence and pride. We are protecting our lake while supporting our families,” says Sumitra Behera, one of the women artisans.

This recognition reaffirms HEAL’s belief that when communities and conservation move together, both can truly flourish.

Congratulations to these incredible women—your success is Chilika’s success 🌊💚

🔗 Read the full Indian Express story here: https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2026/Jan/25/from-floating-menace-to-creating-income-chilikas-women-craft-an-innovation