“Every woman in Assam knows how to weave on a handloom. I, too, was taught by my mother, but over the years I let go of the craft,” reflects Minati, showing her mother’s loom fondly. “Now, at the age of fifty-nine, I have gone back to my roots, and the same loom my mother had passed on to me has led the way to changing my life,” explains Minati. Minati Senapati is a Jacquard handloom weaver and trainer in Jorhat. The Jacquard loom produces fabrics characterised by their intricate woven patterns and textures, yielding the fabric a luxurious feel. Besides being beautiful, it is sustainable and environmentally friendly. The complex and detailed designs produced by the Jacquard loom are created by weaving warp threads, which run lengthwise, along with weft threads running crosswise.
Minati previously had tried her hand at different businesses without finding success. “I started a food processing business a few years ago but I had to shut down because I could not make any profit.”
When Minati heard about Project Disha, she decided to take the plunge and explore. She took the Entrepreneurship Development Training, Financial Literacy Training, among others, offered by the Project in March 2024. She also got the idea of starting a business by building on her existing handloom expertise by getting trained for weaving on a Jacquard handloom. “I enrolled myself for Jacquard handloom training with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) after learning about it from Disha. Soon, I took out a financial loan and bought Jacquard handlooms,” explains Minati.
When asked what is her favourite thing to weave, Minati responds by showing the Assamese traditional scarf, “Gamocha, the identity of Assam”. She proudly explains that it has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications (GIs) Registry. Gamocha with a big flower motif is evidence and an example of the superior skills of Assamese weavers.
Minati started her business in July 2024 and, within a few months, started making a profit. Now, she is able to give extra weaving work to other women in the community who work in her workshop. Nestled in the back of her home, where she lives with her family, is a bamboo shed workshop which houses three Jacquard handlooms.
Minati was able to display and sell her products through the skill melas organised by the government and NABARD. The contacts made from these events keep the orders flowing. “I am now able to earn a profit of Rs 15,000–16,000 from selling my products every month, besides earning as a trainer,” she tells.
According to Minati, “I am proud for not only being financially independent, but also that I am able to provide livelihood opportunities to other women weavers in the community.”
Witnessing Minati’s quick learning curve and success, NABARD hired Minati as a Jacquard handloom trainer. From starting as a student to now becoming an entrepreneur and trainer, Minati has started looking at herself in a new light, “I have realised the value of the legacy passed on by our previous generations. We should look ahead, adapt to the new world, but we should not let go of our roots.”
Project Disha is supporting sustainable livelihoods for rural women in Assam by equipping them with entrepreneurial skills, developing vocational skills in them, supporting their enterprises, training them with finance management and digital literacy, fostering innovation and providing essential support for business growth and market integration.
Building on the project’s goals, Disha is making an entrepreneurial ecosystem for women. This systemic strengthening can bring in the winds of change for a more sustainable and equal society. The Disha Project is supported by YES Foundation and is being implemented by Humana People to People India.
