Guwahati, Assam, 1st of September, 2026 : The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) and CML, an initiative of Tata Trusts, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 31 August 2026 at Garchuk, Guwahati, under Antaran – Transforming Craft, a Tata Trusts initiative dedicated to strengthening craft-based livelihoods and enabling artisan communities to build sustainable enterprises. The partnership marks an important step towards strengthening Assam’s handloom ecosystem, with a specific focus on the handloom clusters in Assam. Through the collaboration, NEHHDC and CML will work towards creating greater opportunities for weavers and artisans through skill enhancement, design development, product innovation, entrepreneurship development, business capacity building and market linkages. The initiative seeks to go beyond conventional interventions centred only on production and training. Under the Antaran approach, artisans are supported across the value chain—from strengthening their technical capabilities and developing contemporary products to building entrepreneurial capacity and connecting with wider markets. The larger objective is to enable artisans to emerge as sustainable, market-oriented and independent enterprises, while preserving the traditional knowledge and cultural identity associated with Assam’s handloom heritage.
This initiative of Tata Trusts, has been working towards the transformation of traditional craft communities through a comprehensive livelihood and enterprise-development model. The programme places artisans at the centre of the intervention and seeks to bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary markets. For Assam’s weavers, the collaboration provides an opportunity to strengthen the entire journey from craft and capability to enterprise and market. Improved weaving and technical skills, exposure to design and product development, diversification into market-responsive products, business and entrepreneurial knowledge, branding and access to buyers can collectively contribute towards enhanced income opportunities and more sustainable livelihoods. The partnership between NEHHDC and CML is therefore expected to create a stronger institutional framework for supporting artisans in the handloom clusters of Assam.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by NEHHDC, followed by the felicitation of the AGM, NABARD and ED-CML, along with participating artisans. This was followed by a session introducing NavTant, presented by Kautillya Basumatary, GM, CML, which set the context for the collaboration. Ms. Mridula Tangirala, Theme Head – Craft and Tourism, Tata Trusts, addressed the gathering and highlighted the significance of strengthening craft-based livelihoods and creating sustainable opportunities for artisan communities. Her address underscored the importance of combining traditional craftsmanship with design, enterprise development and market-oriented interventions.
The programme was further addressed by Shri Madhabananda Ray, ED, CML and Shri Mara Kocho, MD, NEHHDC, who spoke on the significance of the partnership and the opportunities it can create for Assam’s handloom sector. The key moment of the programme was the formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between NEHHDC and CML, marking the institutional commencement of thecollaboration under the Tata Trusts-supported Antaran initiative. The voices of the artisan communities were also an integral part of the programme. Smt.
Dipika Kakati from Kamrup and Smt. Meera Nath from Nalbari shared their experiences and perspectives, bringing the focus of the initiative directly to the weavers and communities it seeks to support.
Mr. Tirthankar Biswas, AGM, NABARD, also addressed the gathering. The programme included a presentation on the Kamrup and Nalbari clusters by Mr. Vishu Negi, Programme Lead, Antaran, through a dedicated video highlighting the clusters and the work being undertaken with artisan communities. The formal programme concluded with a closing address by Kautillya Basumatary, GM, CML, followed by a field visit to NEHHDC facilities.
By bringing together the institutional capabilities of NEHHDC and the craft and livelihood expertise of CML under Tata Trusts’ Antaran initiative, the partnership seeks to strengthen not only individual weavers but the broader handloom ecosystem in the identified clusters. The initiative also has wider significance for the preservation and evolution of Assam’s traditional handloom heritage. By enabling artisans to respond to changing consumer
preferences while retaining the distinctive cultural character of Assamese textiles, the programme aims to make traditional craft a more viable and sustainable livelihood for present and future generations. The signing of the MoU thus marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to build a stronger, more market-oriented and artisan-centric handloom ecosystem in Assam, with the shared vision of ensuring that the communities who preserve the state’s rich weaving traditions are also able to derive greater and more sustainable economic value from their craftsmanship.
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