Guwahati, Oct 24: Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Tiger Reserve, has taken a significant step toward empowering its local communities by launching two flagship schemes aimed at enhancing skills and promoting traditional crafts. The initiatives, under the Ministry of Textiles, aim to support forest fringe communities, further integrating them into sustainable conservation efforts while providing alternate livelihood opportunities.

The programmes exemplifies a harmonious balance between wildlife conservation and community involvement in Kaziranga.

The Skill Training under SAMARTH Scheme was officially launched at the Kohora Convention Centre on Thursday in Kaziranga. The event saw the participation of over 250 community members, civil society groups, and various dignitaries, including Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State for Textiles, and several key Assam ministers such as Atul Bora, Shri Keshab Mahanta, Shri Chandra Mohan Patowary, and Urkhao Gwra Brahma. The launch marks a crucial milestone in Kaziranga’s commitment to balancing conservation with community development.

The SAMARTH Scheme will provide skill training in the handloom sector to local communities, including the Mising, Ahom, Adivasi, and Karbi groups, known for their expertise in weaving and wood carving. The training program will run for approximately 40 days per batch, offering participants a daily subsistence allowance of ₹150. The first phase will cover areas like Agoratoli, Panbari, Dhuba-ati Beloguri, and Bagori, benefiting the villages under Kaziranga’s Eco Development Committees (EDCs).

Alongside the SAMARTH training, the Guru Shishya Hastashilp Prashikshan Programme (GSHPP), under the National Handicrafts Development Programme, was also launched. This initiative focuses on preserving traditional woodcraft, using a hands-on learning approach. In Kaziranga, the program will specifically promote wooden toy crafts, with the first phase training 30 artisans from villages such as Tamulipathar and Agoratoli. The training will follow the traditional Guru-Shishya system, ensuring that master artisans pass on their valuable skills to the next generation.

These schemes, coupled with existing projects like the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) and the Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC), reinforce Kaziranga’s ongoing efforts to support community resilience and sustainable resource use.

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