Raipur, Sept. 13 -- A new story of change is taking shape in the villages of Jaspur, a remote northern district of Chhattisgarh. A weaving skill preserved in homes for generations is now moving beyond tradition to become a source of income, employment and small-scale enterprise. At the centre of this transition is the livelihood complex at Gholeng village, where efforts are underway to give traditional skills of local women a new form suited to modern requirements.

At Gholeng, around 35 to 40 rural families and women associated with Self-Help Groups are being trained in handloom and textile-related skills. The focus is not limited to training. Production is also being developed alongside it so that the skills acquired by women do not rem...