The Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and IIT Roorkee signed a MoU and will work together to create a bridge between traditional handloom sector of Tripura and modern market practices among 500 SHG women weavers.
Key Takeaways
- TRLM and IIT Roorkee have signed a three-year MoU to modernise handloom livelihoods in Tripura.
- The partnership will cover 500 SHG women weavers across North Tripura, Unakoti and Dhalai.
- Technology, design, branding, entrepreneurship and digital market access will drive the initiative.
TRLM and IIT Roorkee have entered into a strategic partnership to strengthen women-led handloom enterprises in Tripura.
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of Abhishek Singh, Secretary of the Rural Development Department, Government of Tripura.
Tarit Kanti Chakma, CEO of TRLM, and Dr. Bibhuti Ranjan Bhattacharjya, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design at IIT Roorkee, signed the agreement.
The partnership will continue for three years. It will focus on converting traditional handloom weaving into a more viable, sustainable and scalable livelihood opportunity.
500 women weavers across three districts
The programme will cover 500 women weavers from self-help groups across North Tripura, Unakoti and Dhalai districts.
TRLM and IIT Roorkee will combine traditional weaving practices with technology, design, research, entrepreneurship and modern business methods.
The collaboration will seek to strengthen the handloom value chain while creating better opportunities for women SHG members.
Technology to improve handloom production
Technological intervention will form a major part of the partnership.
The initiative will focus on improved looms and tools. It will also explore process automation to make production more efficient.
The technology component aims to support weavers as they move towards more modern production practices without losing the foundation of traditional handloom craftsmanship.
Design, quality and product diversification
Knowledge transfer will form another key area of cooperation.
The programme will focus on design development, quality standards and product diversification. It will also promote sustainable production practices.
These measures will help participating weavers improve their products and respond to changing market requirements.
The partnership will therefore connect traditional skills with contemporary design and production knowledge.
Branding and packaging to support market access
The initiative will also give attention to branding and packaging.
TRLM and IIT Roorkee will work towards creating distinct brand identities for handloom products. The partnership will also support market-ready packaging.
A stronger identity and improved presentation can help handloom products compete more effectively in modern markets.
The effort forms part of the broader plan to move handloom activities beyond traditional production and towards organised enterprise.
Entrepreneurship and digital business skills
Entrepreneurship development will be another central pillar of the collaboration.
The programme will build the capacity of women weavers for enterprise creation and management. It will seek to equip SHG members with skills needed to develop and sustain handloom-based businesses.
The partnership will also promote a modern business orientation.
Digital literacy and e-commerce will form part of this effort. The programme will focus on contemporary market access so that participating women can better connect their products with modern consumers.
Bridging tradition and modern enterprise
The TRLM-IIT Roorkee partnership seeks to bring traditional craftsmanship and modern enterprise practices closer together.
The initiative will combine improved technology with design knowledge, branding, entrepreneurship and digital market access.
For the 500 participating women weavers, the programme will provide a structured approach to strengthening their handloom-based livelihoods.
The collaboration also places women SHG members at the centre of the transformation process. By combining traditional weaving expertise with modern business practices, TRLM and IIT Roorkee aim to strengthen the handloom value chain in Tripura.
The partnership represents an effort to build new livelihood opportunities while supporting the continued development of the state’s traditional handloom sector.
