Binjhua Tussar and Handloom Cluster

Almost three decades ago, with the declaration of cocoon as a forest product, two of the major silk companies namely the Silk Trading Company and the Tussar Textile Company in Mayurbhanj announced their closure because of difficulty in obtaining raw materials. This left a huge section of tussar weavers unemployed and down-trodden. The establishment of the Binjhua Tussar Weaver Cooperative Society thereafter, provided employment to a handful of weavers but the society had to suffer the same fate as the companies because of mismanagement, obsolete technology and the traditional process of production.

In search of a proper source of income, weavers started selling their produce to the local traders and Mahajans but got exploited badly which further added to their plight. With the usage of traditional methods of weaving, the weavers suffered health hazards and hence the production efficiency reduced. Suicide cases peaked up due to rising debts and the weaving skill had almost marked its end until there emerged a game changer in the form of SFURTI scheme of the MoMSME.