Tinsukia: A weaving centre at Chapakhowa in Assam's Tinsukia district is providing women of local self-help groups with employment and a market for their hand-woven products.

The Kundil Bastra project, brainchild of the executive officer of Chapakhowa town committee, Dinchengfa Boruah, was initially set up on the committee's office campus. It engaged 10 women to produce home décor to clothes, which are sold under the brand name of Kundil, the earlier name of Sadiya.

The centre, spread over 768 square feet, was built at a cost of around Rs 4 lakh, including sewing machines.

Boruah said, "We provide the raw materials and the weavers produce 'ethno-modern' products, for which they are paid per metre to encourage efficiency. As a student in Bangalore and Delhi, I had witnessed the craze among women for hand-woven clothes from the Northeast. Hence, I initially planned to become an entrepreneur and tie up with self-help groups and sell their products. But I then became a government official and on my second posting, I found my calling through the women weavers of Chapakhowa. Officials from handloom and textile departments are providing us technical support. I discussed the project with them and spoke to local self-help groups before placing the idea before town committee which responded positively. We are concentrating on products like bed covers, curtains, dupattas and dresses and take them to markets outside Assam."

"We sell the finished products through the website www.kundil.com, and stalls at town committee and government markets. We are also exploring the idea of selling through e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart," she added. "We will start a shift system to accommodate more weavers. The facility is also open for free learning."

Weaver Deepti Baruah said, "This is a great initiative. We are happy to get a chance to showcase our talent and earn livelihood. Our designs can make a mark in the world. We will also produce hand-made gamosas to counter machine-made varieties."

Tinsukia deputy commissioner Oinam Saran Kumar Singh said, "This project has the potential to become a game-changer for the economy of this area. Women of self-help groups are provided raw materials and a conducive environment for producing quality products. The weavers earn a regular income and the committee can use some of the profit for welfare activities. It's a win-win situation for both."