From Our Correspondent
NONGPOH, Nov 15: Community and Rural Development Minister Sosthenes Sohtun on Thursday expressed hope that the establishment of the Eri Silk Spinning Centre at Umkynsier village under Jirang C&RD Block will significantly enhance livelihood opportunities for rural women and strengthen the traditional silk weaving sector in Ri-Bhoi District.
The centre, inaugurated in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal, IOCL Executive Director Mukesh Ranjan, Project Director, DRDA Ri-Bhoi, Raja Brahma, local community leaders and women, et al, is one of 30 Eri Silk spinning centres being set up across Ri-Bhoi.
The project is a collaborative initiative of the Ri-Bhoi District Administration and the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), with support from the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. It aims to revitalise the traditional Eri silk industry and provide sustainable income-generation avenues in rural areas.
In his address, Sohtun lauded the collective efforts of the district administration, MSRLS, IOCL and other stakeholders in bringing the centres to fruition. He emphasised that the initiative will greatly benefit Eri silk spinners across the district.
The C&RD minister also pointed out that many areas in Ri-Bhoi have a long-standing tradition of rearing Eri silkworms and producing silk through labour-intensive methods.
With the establishment of the new spinning centres, the weaving process will become faster and more efficient, enabling artisans to increase production within shorter timeframes.
The Ri-Bhoi DC and IOCL Executive Director Mukesh Ranjan, on the other hand, noted that the spinning centres are designed to support rural households that rely on Eri weaving for their livelihoods, helping artisans scale up production and secure stable employment.
