Entrepreneur Saruj Chetia wins BIRAC BIG 2021 session grant

 A CORRESPONDENT

DEMOW: Saruj Chetia, an entrepreneur who launched the start-up ‘Aicheng Innovation and Research Pvt. Ltd.’, an incubate of a-IDEA, ICAR NAARM, Hyderabad, has been selected for the prestigious BIRAC BIG 2021 session grant of Rs 50 lakh under the Department of Biotechnology, Union Ministry of Science and Technology, in agriculture and allied areas.

The funding by BIRAC would be given to Saruj Chetia, a resident of Nitai Naojan Gaon of the Sivasagar district, to work on further research and development of his muga thread reeling machine. The reeling machine developed by Saruj Chetia can be operated with both solar and electric power for muga and mulberry yarn reeling. The machine can reel both warp and weft quality yarn and is a low cost and productive design for grassroots level reelers, weavers and muga farmers. The machine can be operated by a single person, whereas in the conventional method at least two persons are required for reeling. With this machine, one person can reel approximately 100-150 grams of yarn (500-650 numbers of cocoons) a day. Biotechnology Ignition Grant (BIG) is a flagship programme of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), which provides the right admixture of fuel and support to young startups and entrepreneurial individuals.

Saruj Chetia submitted his innovation proposal on ‘A reeling apparatus and method thereof’. More than 700 innovators across the country had applied under the scheme and only few candidates were selected for the final pitching round before the panel committee from which only 14 innovators were selected under agriculture and allied areas across the nation. Saruj Chetia’s start-up ‘Aicheng Innovation and Research Pvt. Ltd.’ secured the third rank across the country in the programme.

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