OIL’s CSR initiative empowers women artisans, promotes sustainable entrepreneurship

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 11, 2025

In a major step toward women’s empowerment and sustainable entrepreneurship, the Oil India Rural Development Society (OIRDS), under the Oil India Limited (OIL), organized a certificate distribution ceremony for women weavers and artisans of the 2023-24 batch at OIL’s Swanirbhar Building (CSR Activity Complex), Tipling, Duliajan on Monday.

The event was attended by Rupjyoti Phukan, RCE, OIL & Advisor, OIRDS, Debashis Bora, CGM-FA & Vice-President, OIRDS, Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, CGM (F&A), and other senior officials, marking a significant milestone in OIL’s commitment to fostering women’s economic independence through skill development initiatives.

Under OIL’s CSR initiatives, the Centre of Excellence for Handicraft, Handloom & Entrepreneurship (CoE) has been instrumental in uplifting women artisans in the company’s operational areas. Established in 1984 as the Handicraft Training and Production Centre (HTPC) during OIL’s Silver Jubilee Year, the Centre was restructured in 2021-22 to align with evolving skill-building needs, encouraging women’s entrepreneurship and promoting sustainable practices.

Functioning under a Hub & Spoke Model (Centre & Community-based), CoE provides government-certified long-term & short-term courses in Handloom & Handicrafts, support for forming cooperative societies, training for value-added production & marketing of sustainable products and to date, over 2,000 women have been trained and empowered through this initiative.

At the ceremony, 75 women artisans were awarded certificates for completing long-term courses in Handloom (Sustainable Apparel) and Handicraft (Eco-Friendly Water Hyacinth & Bamboo). These certificates, accredited by the Apparel Made-Ups & Home Furnishing Sector Skill Council under the Skill India (Kaushal Bharat-Kushal Bharat) and National Skill Development Council, validate their proficiency in these crafts.

A mini-exhibition was also organized at the venue, featuring handloom and handicraft products crafted by two cooperative societies—Prerona and Shrishti—formed under CoE. The exhibition provided a platform for artisans to showcase their skills, reinforcing OIL’s mission to create sustainable livelihoods through skill-based entrepreneurship.