Community development through supply of cane fibre for production of Sitalpati products in Goalpara district, Assam.

Project Concept

The proposed project is about using Maranta cane, a plant that abundantly grows in Assam for production of natural fibres for bulk selling and also a production unit that would create new design samples and products under the guidance and supervision of specialist designers for sales and export.

Maranta cane is found in plenty across Goalpara district. It grows very fast and therefore can be a raw material that is almost free and can be procured throughout the year without hindering any commercial activity concerning it.

The Implementing Agency

The proposer Sreemanta Sankar Mission of Guwahati is a 36 year old Guwahati based registered society working across the NE region in the spheres of health, education and empowerment of women especially the women entrepreneurs. Sreemanta Sankar Mission of Guwahati runs two of its flagship programs – the Vasundhara NE Women Entrepreneur of the Year and Purvottar Pran Lifetime Achievement Award for social integration aimed at highlighting the successful women entrepreneurs and people who have contributed substantially towards the growth of the region.

Sreemanta Sankar Mission of Guwahati has been made a Nodal Agency for the NE Region by the NITI Aayog, Govt. of India under its flagship Women Entrepreneurs Platform programme and its Secretary General works as the Head NER of the WEP on behalf of the NITI Aayog.

Sreemanta Sankar Mission of Guwahati has proposed this particular project on experimental basis aimed at empowering the rural people of the chosen project area and provide them a sustainable livelihood option through commercialization of Maranta cane as a natural fibre for Sitalpati product weaving.

Goals and objectives of the project

The project proposed aims at achieving the following goals: -

• Create awareness among rural people of the project area about the scope and opportunities associated with cane as a natural fibre that could provide them sustainable livelihood throughout the year.
• To extend specialist and technical guidance for processing of cane plants into natural fibres for bulk supply.
• To provide design and technology training for creation of various craft items having household and commercial utility for sale and export.
• To work at conducting research and development activity on cane as a natural organic fibre that can compete with other similar fibres such as jute, coconut, banana and others.