Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Limited, is committed to social responsibility and works towards building a more equitable and inclusive world. Through its CSR initiatives, the company empowers communities and fosters sustainable development. The following case study explores a handloom project in Golaghat, Assam, that exemplifies this commitment by enabling women artisans to achieve financial independence and preserve Assam's weaving heritage.
Dive deeper to learn how the company is empowering women and reviving Assam's rich textile heritage. Read the full case study here.
Handloom Initiatives by Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Ltd changing the lives of Women in Golaghat district of Assam
Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Limited is India’s largest private oil and gas exploration and production company. The ethos of ‘Transforming for Good’ is embedded at the core of our business strategy and we ensure the same through three key pillars – Transforming the Planet, Transforming Communities and Transforming the Workplace.
We are dedicated to envisioning and actively working towards a more equitable and inclusive world where empowered communities can thrive. Through our comprehensive CSR initiatives and sustained commitment to community development, we have touched the lives of 40.9 million people in FY 2022-23.
The Initiative:
A handloom project has been implemented at Borchapori Village, Borpathar District, Golaghat (Assam). This has been developed as a part of the livelihood generation initiatives in partnership with Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM) and District Handloom Department, Govt. of Assam.
Problem Statement:
Livelihood is a major constraint in the rural areas of Assam. Mostly the women from the bordering areas of Assam-Nagaland can’t access the benefits of the Government schemes due to lack of awareness.
Many benefits of the ASRLM and government schemes are inaccessible to the Golaghat region being a tea tribal area, tucked further away than the other districts. There was a need to create awareness and connect the region with such government facilities and help them improve their livelihoods.
Solution Framework:
3 Village Organisations including 60 SHGs are covered under this initiative.
Out of 60, 28 SHGs are already registered with the “Swanibhar Nari” scheme under the Govt. Of Assam. Under this scheme, each registered SHG has been producing 2000+ Gamosas which will be directly procured by the Handloom Department, Govt of Assam with a fixed price of INR 270 per unit.
The Gamosa of Assam is an article of significance for the indigenous people of Assam, India. It is generally a white rectangular piece of cloth with primarily a red border on three sides and red woven motifs on the fourth.
In total, the 28 SHGs got the order to produce 56000 units of Gamosa with an estimated budget of INR 1,51,20,000.
While the 28 SHGs have started producing the order, it’s in progress for the remaining 32 SHGs.
Cairn Intervention:
Golaghat District is closer to Cairn’s Hazarigaon well site and being a Tea Tribal area, the benefits of Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission and Handloom Department were not accessible in the region.
There was a need to mobilize the schemes in the rural communities by ensuring awareness. The Cairn CSR team enabled the liaison between ASRLM and the communities in the Golaghat district for them to reap the benefits of the Swanibhar Nari scheme. From creating awareness regarding such prevailing schemes to providing help during registration and executing the order, it was ensured that the community people received our 360-degree support.
For the training of women artisans, we partnered with the Handloom Department, Govt. Of Assam.
Expansion of the Project:
To help the communities earn more livelihood and become self-reliant, we are scaling the projects to production of more articles. The women from these groups also started producing local “Mekhela- Chador” (Assamese design sarees) and mufflers to meet the needs of the local market and increase their earning potential.
The products are also showcased through various melas in Assam. As part of further expansion, ASRLM plans to supply the products in more cities across the nation.
Testimonial:
Ms. Mahila Saikia of Meghali SHG, Ramdhenu Village Organization has produced 200 Gamosas to date along with a dozen “mekhela-chador” and earned approximately INR 58,000 to date. With this amount, she is now supporting her two sons in their higher education and becoming a role model for other women from the community to become financially independent.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this case study is courtesy of Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Limited
