Textile Training in Gholeng Strengthens Pathways to Employment and Self-Employment
Raipur, September 2026 : Skills that were once largely confined to homes, courtyards and village traditions are now creating new pathways to employment and self-reliance. In Gholeng village of Jashpur district, traditional handloom skills are being connected with modern technology, skill training and market requirements to create new livelihood opportunities for women and youth. The initiative is not only an important step towards giving local skills a new identity but is also opening possibilities for strengthening the rural economy and generating employment opportunities at the local level.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuous efforts are being made to promote the economic self-reliance of women and connect youth with employment-oriented skills. In the same direction, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has placed special emphasis on connecting women and youth with modern technology and skill training. The livelihood centre at Gholeng is emerging as an example of this vision being implemented on the ground.
Training Alongside Production: Linking Skills with Income
At the livelihood centre in Gholeng village, local women and youth are being trained in activities related to textiles and handloom. The initiative, being implemented through the joint efforts of the Aditya Birla Group, district administration, बिहान (BIHAN) and the Textile Skill Sector Council, is not limited to imparting skills. It also focuses on developing production activities alongside training.
Around 35 to 40 families traditionally associated with livelihoods in Gholeng, along with women members of self-help groups, are being provided training in handloom and textile-related activities. The women are learning to produce fabrics using modern technology and machines, besides acquiring skills to make shawls, sarees and other useful products.
The objective is clear — to place skills in people's hands and transform those skills into a source of income. With opportunities for production alongside training, women are able to apply their newly acquired skills in practical work and move towards making them a regular source of livelihood.
A Blend of Tradition and Technology
Jashpur is known for its rich tribal culture, traditions and local skills. At Gholeng, efforts are being made to connect these traditional skills with modern technology. During the training, women are being familiarised with modern production processes, along with designing products according to quality standards and market demand.
This approach is creating an opportunity to preserve traditional handloom art not merely as cultural heritage but also as a modern economic activity. Efforts to improve product design and quality and connect the products with markets are also expected to help give local handloom products a wider identity.
Women SHGs as Drivers of Economic Change
Women self-help groups are a key component of the initiative. After completing their training, women will be able to participate in production activities through their respective groups. This is expected to promote group-based livelihoods and create new sources of income for women.
Economic empowerment of women benefits not only individual households but also strengthens their participation in family financial decisions, supports children's education and improves overall household well-being. In this way, the initiative at Gholeng is emerging as a step from women’s empowerment towards rural economic empowerment.
New Employment Opportunities for Local Youth
Special emphasis is also being placed on involving local youth in textile-sector training. The objective is to provide them with employment-oriented skills and connect them with opportunities for employment and self-employment within their own region.
Availability of skills and employment opportunities locally can reduce the need for young people to migrate to other cities in search of work. Trained youth can also explore opportunities to establish production units, participate in group-based activities or pursue other forms of self-employment.
Gholeng to Become a Link Between Skill, Production and Market
Efforts are underway to develop the handloom training and production centre at Gholeng as a strong link between skills, production and markets. Emphasis is being placed on aligning the quality and design of products with market demand so that local talent gets opportunities to reach both local and wider markets.
The initiative demonstrates how traditional skills can become the foundation for stronger rural livelihoods when combined with modern skills, technology, training and market access.
Jashpur Moving Towards Self-Reliance Through Skills
The initiative in Gholeng is not merely about training people to make textiles. It is an effort to transform skills into dignity, opportunities into income and traditional knowledge into avenues for self-reliance.
Women are combining traditional skills with modern technology, while youth are gaining new possibilities for employment and self-employment. At the same time, new opportunities are being created locally to strengthen the rural economy.
What was once primarily a symbol of tradition is now moving towards becoming a source of employment, self-employment and self-reliance, potentially making Gholeng's initiative a significant example of strengthening rural livelihoods in Jashpur.
