Cairn Oil and Gas Empowers Assam Weavers On Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

On Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Cairn Oil & Gas, Vedanta Ltd. celebrates the remarkable journey of over 3200 women weavers in Assam who are redefining entrepreneurship - one loom, one thread, and one breakthrough at a time. What began as a traditional household skill has evolved into a powerful engine of rural livelihood and economic resilience, through Cairn’s sustained support in developing community-led handloom centres across Golaghat and Jorhat.

These centres - established in partnership with the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) - have enabled women to convert inherited skills into profitable enterprises. In villages like Borchapori and Agchamua, weaving has moved beyond its cultural roots to become a symbol of financial independence. Women, once confined to domestic roles, now operate as entrepreneurs supplying high-quality gamosas under the Government of Assam’s Swanirbhar Naari scheme.

“Across our Borchapori and Agchamua handloom centres, women weavers are now working with upgraded looms, improved infrastructure, and dedicated technical mentoring. As a result, their efficiency has risen by nearly 30%, enabling them to diversify their products to include mekhela chadors, shawls, and more,” said a Cairn spokesperson.

For women like Mohila Saikia of Borchapori, weaving is no longer a chore - it is a livelihood, an entrepreneurial journey, and a gateway to dignity. “The new machines have changed everything. I can now produce up to five gamosas a day. This is not just weaving; it is progress,” she says.

Cairn’s long-term vision aligns with India’s mission of building a Viksit Bharat powered by women-led growth. By turning weavers into entrepreneurs, these handloom centres are not merely producing fabric—they are weaving stories of resilience, opportunity, and transformation across Assam.