Mission Senehjori: Assam CM unveils ₹400 crore Muga silk revival push
Synopsis
Assam's ₹400 crore Mission Senehjori is more than a textile scheme — it is a bid to rescue Muga silk, one of the world's rarest fabrics, from counterfeiters and demographic decline. With 1,180 FIGs, 30 FPOs, digital traceability and GI enforcement, Himanta Biswa Sarma is pitching Assam's golden silk to the Gulf and Japan.
Key Takeaways
Mission Senehjori , worth over ₹400 crore , has been jointly launched by Assam and the Centre to revive the Muga silk sector.
The project will set up 1,180 Farmer Interest Groups and 30 Farmer Producer Organisations across Assam.
It introduces digital traceability and stricter GI authentication to combat counterfeit Muga silk products.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announced it after meeting Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on 2 June .
Target export markets include the Gulf region and Japan .
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said the newly launched ‘Mission Senehjori’, a joint initiative with the Centre worth over ₹400 crore, will strengthen the state's iconic Muga silk sector and uplift the livelihoods of farmers and weavers tied to the centuries-old craft. The announcement came after Sarma's meeting with Union Minister for the North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi.
What the mission covers
Sharing details in a post on X, Sarma said the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) has designed the mission to protect the interests of artisans, farmers, and traditional weavers behind Assam's signature golden silk. The project envisages the formation of 1,180 Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and 30 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across the state.
Digital traceability and GI safeguards
The mission will introduce digital traceability systems and stringent Geographical Indication (GI) authentication measures, enabling global buyers to verify the authenticity of Assam's Muga silk products and handicrafts. The Chief Minister said these safeguards would help curb counterfeit products that have long undercut genuine weavers in domestic and export markets.
Targeting global markets
Sarma said the government aims to take Assam's indigenous craftsmanship to international markets, including the Gulf region, Japan, and other destinations. He framed the push as a product of the “double engine government” model under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with Centre-state coordination on funding and execution.
Why it matters
Muga silk, produced almost exclusively in Assam, holds a GI tag and is among the rarest natural silks globally. Yet the sector has faced persistent challenges — shrinking host plantations, ageing weaver demographics, and price competition from synthetic alternatives. A structured FPO-led model, if executed, could shift bargaining power back to producers.
What's next
Sarma expressed appreciation for Scindia's sustained engagement with the Northeast, saying such initiatives would help preserve heritage industries while creating sustainable rural livelihoods. Operational rollout of the FIGs and FPOs is expected to begin in phases across Muga-producing districts of Assam.
Point of View
It could be a template for other GI-tagged crafts. The risk, as with most Northeast schemes, lies in execution velocity once the announcement cycle ends.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mission Senehjori?
Mission Senehjori is a joint initiative of the Assam government and the Centre, worth over ₹400 crore, aimed at protecting and promoting Assam's traditional Muga silk industry. It focuses on organising farmers and weavers into structured groups and ensuring authenticity through GI and digital traceability systems.
How many farmer groups will be formed under the mission?
The mission envisages the creation of 1,180 Farmer Interest Groups (FIGs) and 30 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across Assam. These structures are designed to give Muga silk farmers and weavers stronger market access and bargaining power.
How will the mission tackle counterfeit Muga silk?
Mission Senehjori introduces digital traceability systems and stricter Geographical Indication (GI) authentication measures. These will allow global buyers to verify the authenticity of Assam's Muga silk products and handicrafts before purchase.
Which international markets is Assam targeting for Muga silk?
Assam is targeting the Gulf region, Japan, and other global destinations for its Muga silk exports. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the goal is to position Assam's indigenous craftsmanship in premium international markets.
Who announced Mission Senehjori?
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the mission on Tuesday after meeting Union Minister for the North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi. He credited the project to Centre-state collaboration under the ‘double engine government' model.
