June 7,2022 Guwahati:Resham Sutra is a startup working to improve the lives of silk spinners and handweavers in rural India. The company has innovated a series of machines that increase productivity of rural textile producers by up to 400%. Apart from introducing the latest technologies, the company focuses on training for skill up-gradation of rural producers. The company has also introduced a digital platform to facilitate access to raw materials and markets improving the income of the rural producers.
The North East region is the most prolific Eri and Muga silk producing and hand weaving regions in India. Presently many women spin Eri yarn and weave fabric as a part time livelihood activity. Resham Sutra's modern machines and business support helps them to scale the activity as a full-time income earning occupation. This results in an increase in family incomes. Resham Sutra is supported by 'Powering Livelihoods', an initiative jointly run by Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Villgro Innovations Foundation.
Resham Sutra's activities in the North East India:
Establishment of Silk Park in Kokrajhar, (with Bodoland Territorial Council)
Silk Park in Kokrajhar was established by Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in 2020-21. The BTR is keen to build local job opportunities to enable sustainable livelihoods for the rural demographic. Silk production has emerged as an ideal choice. Eri and Muga Silks are native to the region and have good demand.
The Silk Park has a training centre, cocoon bank, silk spinning, weaving and printing facilities to produce diversified products. Quality Control and Assurance is given special emphasis to help Rural Women able to sell their products in the marketplace.
The rural women are involved in spinning, reeling, dyeing and solar powered weaving. Digital Printing and Embroidery are value add operations.
Weaving Training Centre in Nalbari, Assam (for Gramiya Vikas Samiti):
Resham Sutra provides training for upgrading the rural women who are working in the weaving sector.Resham Sutra helped in providing solar powered machines to set up integrated 'Yarn to Finished Product' in the Eri Silk Value Chain.The objective is to develop more training infrastructure and modernisation of the weaving sector in the region.
Weaving Training Centre at Nalbari was set up with the following objectives:
Solar Powered Looms in Arunachal Pradesh
Resham Sutra has established a modern weaving setup with Solar powered looms and pre weaving activities. The Solar weaving centers have been established with por from use Department of Textiles in Changlang and Boats of the state women in the region have been trained to weave on the solar looms.The impact made in Assam and other Northeast regions Women supported: 1200 plus and 12,000+ in Pan India.
Resham Sutra is working with local authorities to facilitate Reeling, Spinning and Weaving of Silk in all states of the North East Region. The activities are already creating employment for thousands of women in the region.
The mission of the company is to develop modern machines that can revolutionize rural silk production and fabric weaving and leverage the experience of the founders in establishing entire textile value chain from farming to yarn production, weaving and marketing.
The company is working towards the vision of creating sustainable rural livelihood options using clean energy through new technology innovations.The company has partnered with various organizations working with the rural communities in the regions. Through these partnerships and with the support of the local institutions, the company is building an ecosystem that will enable a large number of rural producers to earn a healthy income while doing dignified work in their villages.
Resham Sutra is organizing training programs for rural silk spinners in the Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya and Kamrup Rural and Goalpara in Assam. The program is being executed with the support of Central Silk Board, Government of India and Selco Foundation.Resham Sutra is also setting up Rural Experience Centers and Rural Facility Centers in the region. These will provide support in bridging ecosystem gaps to ensure better livelihood generation for small scale producers.
