`Nari Shakti’: Meet 48-year-old South Kashmir woman who has discovered enzyme that makes polythene disappear 

Srinagar: A 48-year-old innovator has sold the copyright of her anti-polythene enzyme to a private company to rid the country of plastic pollution.

Nasira Akhter of Kulgam was awarded Nari Shakti Puraskar for discovering an enzyme that makes polythene degradable. 

  “I recently sold the project to a company with whom I have a non-disclosure agreement. Very soon my innovation will be available in the market so that people can get rid of the polythene mess,” Nasira told The Kashmir Monitor.

Nasira said that the company will soon launch the product. “They are in the process of launching it. It will help to reduce plastic pollution,” she said.

 Nasira is also planning to document her experience and write a book on polymers.

 “I am waiting for my innovation to hit the market. Later I will seek help from academicians to write on polymers. I have been working on polymers for a long time and it is now the time to document it in the form of a book,” she said.

 Nasira, who is currently working as a subordinate employee in Pollution Control Board said she has made all the preparations to write about polymers.

 “Language has been the biggest constraint for me. I have had my basic education in an Urdu medium school. I will seek assistance from professionals to write this book. It will be of great help to the students,” she said.

 Nasira said she has many other projects in the pipeline. “They were stalled due to various reasons. I will carry forward my mission and involve more people in the future to conserve the environment,” she said.

  A grass root innovator, Akhter discovered the enzyme in 2008 that can make polythene disappear without causing any harm to the environment.

 Akhter said it took her 20-years to complete the project after long discussions with several agencies across India, especially with Giyan Chand.

 Before Nari Shakti Puraskar, she has been recognized by Kalam World Record, Asia Book of Records, and India Book of Records. She has also received an honorary doctorate from World Record University in London.