Reported by Roopak Goswami
Guwahati: The Centre on Tuesday launched an ambitious Rs 400-crore mission to transform Assam’s iconic Muga silk into a global luxury textile brand, with Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia declaring that the initiative aims to ensure the “full premium value” of the golden silk reaches weavers and rearers in the state.
Named Mission “Senehjori”, the cluster-based initiative seeks to overhaul the entire Muga silk value chain — from host plant cultivation and silkworm rearing to branding, exports, digital traceability and silk tourism.
Launching the mission alongside Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Scindia said Assam’s Muga silk, known for its natural golden colour and GI-tagged identity, has remained “significantly under-monetised” despite its global uniqueness.
“Assam accounts for 90 per cent of the world’s Muga silk production,” Scindia said, adding that most producers currently earn only Rs 18,000–21,000 annually from the sector.
“My commitment to you is that we will ensure every part of the value chain comes together — to take Muga silk from the cocoons of Assam to the world stage,” he said.
The mission, anchored by the Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in collaboration with the Assam government, Central Silk Board and Ministry of Textiles, will focus on major Muga-producing districts including Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Majuli and Sualkuchi.
Officials said the programme aims to build a premium export-oriented ecosystem around Muga silk through modern reeling infrastructure, Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs), GI authentication systems and a unified global brand identity under “Senehjori”.
The Centre estimates the mission cost at Rs 396–411 crore over three years, including Rs 136–151 crore support from MDoNER.
By 2028, the mission targets the creation of five modernised Muga reeling units, a Muga spun mill, 30 FPOs, the regeneration of 5,000 hectares of Som and Soalu host plants and digital traceability systems covering over 8,000 households.
The initiative also plans to promote “silk tourism” through a proposed Muga Silk Trail, Silk Tourism Park and annual Muga Utsav festivals.
Scindia described the launch as a major step toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an “Atmanirbhar North East”, saying Assam has the potential to emerge as a global hub for luxury silk and cultural textiles.
The launch programme was attended by Union Ministers Sukanta Majumdar and Pabitra Margherita, along with officials from the Central Silk Board, textile institutions and producer organisations.