ICAR-CIRCOT Team Visit to Tribal Women Entrepreneurs under Jan Jatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada

As part of the Jan Jatiya Gaurav Varsh Pakhwada celebrations commemorating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Bagwan Birsa Munda, a team from ICAR-CIRCOT, Mumbai visited a group of tribal women artisans at Naupada, Mumbai on 7th November 2025. The visit aimed to promote socio-economic empowerment, skill enhancement, and awareness among tribal women engaged in traditional crafts. 

The women’s group, supported by a local NGO, has established a sustainable livelihood model using sewing machine infrastructure to produce apparels, bags, and other handmade textile products. They have also integrated Warli painting, a renowned Geographical Indication art form of Maharashtra, into their textile products, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the tribal communities. 

During the visit, Mr. Manoj Ambare, Chief Technical Officer interacted with the artisans and apprised them of various government and institutional schemes, including RKVY-RAFTAAR, which provides funding support of up to ₹25 lakhs for strengthening entrepreneurial infrastructure. He also guided the women on the use of natural dyes for Warli painting applications, sharing that ICAR-CIRCOT possesses extensive expertise in the extraction and application of natural dyes on cotton fabrics. Mr. Ambare also guided the women on marketing and promotion strategies, suggesting participation in exhibitions, trade fairs, and buyer-seller meets where ICAR-CIRCOT could assist in facilitating linkages and providing institutional support. He emphasized that exposure through such platforms could help them reach wider markets, attract customers, and build brand identity for their products