Srija is a student innovator and entrepreneur currently pursuing her first year of B.Tech at BVRITH Engineering College, Hyderabad. Her journey began on March 19, 2020, while studying at ZPHS Chintalakunta. During a plantation activity on campus, she discovered a polythene bag buried in the soil, a remnant from a sapling that had been planted years earlier without removing the plastic covering. Realising that this was a common practice, especially among those fearing that removing the cover might damage the sapling’s roots, she became deeply concerned about the environmental impact.
Motivated by this observation and the excessive use of polythene in nurseries, Srija set out to develop an eco-friendly alternative. Using agro-waste ingredients, she began creating biodegradable pots (Biopots) by hand, despite the challenges of preparing the material manually. Her innovation caught the attention of the Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC) through the Intinta Innovator competition, where she received mentorship, idea validation, and crucial connections to sector-specific organisations.
With continued support from TSIC, T-Works helped refine her formula and facilitated the development of a scalable manufacturing process. AGHUB later selected her innovation for incubation, awarding her a grant of ₹4 lakhs. This enabled her to purchase machinery and establish her own unit — Srija Green Galaxy — in Gadwal, which now produces around 100 Biopots per day.
Expanding her product line, Srija has also started manufacturing eco-friendly teacups and Vinayaka idols using groundnut shells. Her products are now being used by nurseries, environmental organisations, NGOs, and government departments, including the Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad.