Guwahati: The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) has launched a technology-based handloom program called Revitalising Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises (RISE) to boost entrepreneurship in the handloom sector.   

The objective of RISE is to focus on enhancing innovation and sustainability in handloom enterprises in four villages - Pairanga, Milanpur, Bondapara, and Kukurmara of Kamrup district throughout this fiscal year. This program will focus on villagers who already practice traditional handloom practices. 

"The program RISE aims to empower the progressive weavers in the handloom sector through advanced Jacquard machinery ensuring the efficiency, growth, and sustainability of their businesses which will help them in product diversification", EDII said in a release.

A Jacquard machine is a a loom designed to weave fabrics of intricate design whose control mechanism makes use of cards with holes punched in them.

After successful completion of the training programmes, participants will be handheld with a Jacquard machine followed by mentoring till graduation to enterprise formation, it added. 

The training participants will be mentored by the EDII North East Regional Office (NERO) located in Guwahati to extend support in market linkage and selling of their products under RISE.

The program has already completed specialized training in Bondapara and Milonpur villages, with one ongoing in Pairanga. EDII, an autonomous institution, is recognized as a 'centre of excellence' by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

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