CSR: Cairn Empowers Assam Women Weavers with Livelihoods

GUWAHATI (India CSR): On International Women’s Day 2026, themed “Give to Gain,” Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Ltd, is celebrating the inspiring journey of women weavers from Assam whose traditional skills have evolved into powerful instruments of economic independence, leadership, and community transformation.

Across India, Cairn’s community development initiatives are focused on empowering women and strengthening families. The company’s social programmes are currently uplifting over 20 million women and children through initiatives in education, nutrition, healthcare and welfare, while supporting holistic community development with a strong focus on nutrition, healthcare and early childhood education.

Within this broader commitment to inclusive growth, Cairn’s initiatives in Assam highlight how investing in women’s potential can transform communities.

In the villages of Borchapori in Golaghat and Agchamua in Jorhat, weaving has long been a deeply rooted cultural tradition practiced by women for generations. Through targeted interventions and partnerships with the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM), Cairn has helped convert this traditional skill into a sustainable source of income and empowerment of women.

The Jacquard Handloom Centre in Golaghat, supported by Cairn in collaboration with ASRLM, has emerged as a hub of opportunity for rural women artisans. What began with a small group of weavers has now evolved into a vibrant ecosystem of self-help groups involving over 3,000 women, producing traditional gamusas and other handwoven products that are supplied under the Government of Assam’s Swanirbhar Naari scheme.

Building on this success, Cairn expanded the initiative to the Sampriti Maku Handloom Centre in Agchamua village, providing infrastructure, enabling skill development, and creating livelihood opportunities to women from surrounding communities. These centres not only provide looms but also offer structured trainings to help women enhance their weaving skills and productivity.

To further strengthen skill development in the traditional textile sector, the Government of India’s Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SMARTH) conducted a skill development training programme at the Borchapori Dhansiri Handloom centre. The training focused on providing demand-driven, placement-oriented training and promoting skill development and upgradation in traditional handlooms.

The journey of these women weavers reached a remarkable milestone earlier this year when artisans from the centres were invited to showcase their handcrafted textiles at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, one of the world’s leading energy conferences.

At the global forum, the women artisans presented a diverse range of traditional handwoven products, including mekhela chadors, scarves, saris, jackets, handcrafted bags, pillow covers, and gamusas, made from indigenous silks such as muga and eri. Their creations received enthusiastic appreciation from international delegates, industry leaders, and policymakers attending the event.

For the artisans, this was their first opportunity to present their craft on an international platform – marking a powerful leap from village looms to global recognition. Distinguished guests visiting the

Cairn pavilion were also felicitated with traditional gamusas handcrafted by the women weavers, symbolising Assam’s rich textile heritage.

These initiatives reflect Cairn’s belief that sustainable development is most impactful when women are placed at the centre of progress. As the world observes International Women’s Day under the theme “Give to Gain,” the journey of Assam’s women weavers stands as a powerful reminder that when communities invest in women’s empowerment, the returns extend far beyond livelihoods, creating stronger families, resilient communities, and a more inclusive future.

(India CSR)