The Eastern Voice Correspondent
Patna. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Department of Industries, Government of Bihar and the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi) for the implementation of the Water Hyacinth Craft Development Project. The MoU was exchanged in the august presence of the Minister for Industries, Government of Bihar, Ms. Shreyasi Singh.
On the occasion, the Minister said, “The Water Hyacinth Craft Development Project presents an innovative model for environmental conservation and rural economic empowerment in Bihar. While water hyacinth, which spreads rapidly across water bodies, poses a significant environmental challenge, this initiative seeks to transform it into value-added craft products, thereby creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Secretary, Department of Industries, Shri Kundan Kumar, said, “The Water Hyacinth Craft Development Project under the RAMP Programme is a significant initiative towards promoting sustainable entrepreneurship and strengthening rural livelihoods in Bihar. The project envisages the establishment of Common Facility Centres, skill development and capacity-building programmes, product design support, quality enhancement and effective marketing systems to create a robust value chain for water hyacinth-based craft products. By transforming locally available resources into economic opportunities, this initiative will provide new impetus to Bihar’s MSME, handicrafts, and textile sectors while ensuring sustainable income growth for rural artisans.”
Shri Kundan Kumar, Secretary, Department of Industries; Shri Aman Sameer, Director, MSME; Shri Ashim Kumar Das, General Manager, NEDFi; Shri Chandrakant Das, Executive Officer, NEDFi along with other senior officials from the Department of Industries and NEDFi were present
The project aims to promote environmentally sustainable entrepreneurship by developing water hyacinth into a useful and sustainable raw material for handicraft production. Over the next eight months, the project is expected to directly benefit 200 artisans including 150 artisans from Saharsa district and 50 artisans from Vaishali district.
Under the project, Common Facility Centres (CFCs) will be established to provide modern production infrastructure. Artisans will also receive skill development and capacity-building training, product design and innovation support, as well as marketing and market linkage assistance. These interventions will enhance product quality, improve competitiveness, and expand market access.
The initiative is expected to provide fresh momentum to Bihar’s handicrafts and textile sectors by promoting sustainable entrepreneurship, enhancing the incomes of rural communities and further strengthening the State Government’s commitment to environmental conservation and inclusive industrial development.
