Assam: Eri silk spinning training concludes at Pobitora Fringe

A CORRESPONDENT

MORIGAON: A five-day training programme on Eri silk spinning was successfully concluded on Friday at Ouguri under the Ouguri Eco Development Committee, located on the fringes of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The training was a joint initiative by the Assistant Director of Sericulture, Morigaon, and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Mayong, aimed at empowering local women through sustainable and traditional livelihoods.

For the first time, the Range Officer of Pobitora WLS, in collaboration with the Sericulture Department, launched a programme to revive Assam’s age-old silk traditions—Eri, Muga, and Pat—while simultaneously promoting eco-friendly economic alternatives for fringe communities. Eri silk production, known for its environmentally sound practices such as integrated organic farming, silkworm rearing, and sustainable fuel and manure generation, is seen as a promising livelihood option for locals.

The training involved 10 women weavers from the Ouguri Eco Development Committee, equipping them with practical skills in spinning high-value Eri silk. Certificates were handed over to the trainees by key officials including Nirupam Roy Choudhury (In-Charge Assistant Director, Morigaon Sericulture Division), Pranjal Baruah AFS (Range Officer, Pobitora WLS), Sujeeta Saikia (Extension Officer, Sericulture), and Nripen Chandra Nath (Inspector, Sericulture).

The sessions were conducted by Master Trainer Zaheda Begum, Assistant Manager at the Eri Spinning Training Center, along with staff member Anita Borah.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has established five Eco Development Committees in surrounding villages to protect wildlife and promote sustainable, alternative livelihoods. This training marked a significant step towards integrating conservation with community-based development.

Officials expressed optimism that the initiative would not only revive lost traditions but also reduce human-wildlife conflict by providing meaningful employment to those living around the sanctuary.

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