The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) has launched the “ERI Silk Spinning Mill” at the Integrated Textile Park in Mushalpur, Assam, with an investment of US $ 1.74 million (Rs. 14.92 crore) from the North Eastern Council (NEC). The largest Eri silk mill in the Northeast, it features 960 spindles and a daily production capacity of 461 kg with a built-up area of 12,916 square feet. The mill was inaugurated by Pramod Boro, CEM of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
The mill is expected to directly employ 375 people and indirectly support around 50,000 households, when operating at full capacity. It will require 230 metric tons of Eri cocoon annually for its operations. Earlier, Union Textiles Minister Giriraj Singh launched the Eri Silk Production Development Scheme at Dantiwada Agricultural University.
Advanced equipment such as degumming, a hydro extractor, a hot air dryer, a pupa rider, a cocoon opener, a fibre cutter, a bale, a press, cheese, cone winding, TFO, and reeling have been installed at the state-of-the-art facility. It is anticipated that the project will improve livelihood, increase productivity, and benefit the region socioeconomically.
Eri silk, known as “peace silk” for its cruelty-free extraction process, is gaining popularity due to its eco-friendly qualities. As global demand for sustainable products rises, Eri silk is well-positioned to meet these preferences. The main objective of the Eri Silk Spinning Mill is to boost local cocoon production, add value through spinning and weaving, and create substantial employment opportunities for the local community.
Brigadier R.K. Singh (Retd.), Managing Director of NEHHDC, stated that the Eri Silk Spinning Mill will support the development of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) by curbing the export of unprocessed Eri silk cocoons from the Northeast. The mill will produce high-quality Eri yarn in cone and hank packages, improving price realisation and fulfilling the demand for dyed yarn in the handloom sector across eight Northeast states.
Bidyut Bikash Rajkonwar, COO of the Eri Silk Spinning Mill, announced that in 2024, NEHHDC, under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of India, successfully achieved the prestigious OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification for Eri Silk from Germany. This global certification ensures that the silk is tested for harmful substances.
