Government of India
Banima Brahma
State : Assam
District : Chirang
Block : Sidli-Chirang
Village : Silpota
Self Help Group : Mainao Self Help Group
Livelihood Activities : Handloom
Lakhpati Didi Journey
Banima Brahma, once a homemaker reliant on her husband’s modest income, faced a turning point when a road accident left him bedridden. Since then, Banima had to take care of her ailing husband and children. She joined an Self Help Group, where she took a loan of Rs. 10,000 and started her venture in handloom. Initially, she started with just one loom and then gradually expanded by taking an additional Community Investment Fund loan of Rs. 80,000 from Village Organization. She also received NRETP incubator grants of Rs. 3 Lakh. Now, she operates 23 Jacquard looms with 23 employees. Her products, which include traditional handloom items such as Gamosa, Aronai, Dokhona, Jwmgra, Coat, and Endi Chadar, are sold in local markets and in different melas. Banima is self-sufficient now and earns a profit of Rs. 25,000-30,000 per month.
