Two handicraft production centres have been established for skilled women artisans from the Laokhowa-Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (LBWLS) in Assam by Aaranyak, with backing from the International Rhino Foundation (IRF). The inauguration was attended by key figures including Dr. Sonali Ghosh of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and representatives from IRF and Aaranyak. These centres aim to provide workspaces, collective production facilities, and ongoing income-generation opportunities for the trained women artisans. Aaranyak, in collaboration with LBWLS, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, and the Laokhowa Burhachapori Conservation Society (LBCS), has been offering skill-based training to women in fringe areas of the sanctuary. The centres are intended to enhance technical skills and secure financial independence for these artisans, marking a significant advancement in institutionalizing community-based handicraft production, empowering women-led enterprises, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in the region.
