“Our work was already going on before, but then Sashakt came along. We were told there would be training, so we decided to attend. We learnt so many new things, and we liked it a lot.”

When the women of what is now Paschim Bagta Voilyabori Sankardev BKSS Ltd. first heard about Project Sashakt, they were curious. They were already skilled weavers and running their own businesses, but they wondered what more the training could offer. Like Gitima Medhi, many of them decided to give it a chance. They felt there was nothing to lose—and everything to gain.

Looking back, they describe it as one of the best decisions they made.

“Sashakt taught us many new skills, including banking, online marketing, and how to grow our business. We understood how these things could help us take our work further,” says Gitima.

The journey has been about much more than business. As entrepreneurs, they have learnt to work together, think ahead, and continuously improve their craft. As weavers, they have explored new designs, experimented with different products, and discovered opportunities beyond what they had imagined.

“Earlier, we only made traditional products like gamocha and mekhela chador. Now we also make shirt pieces and have started learning to weave sarees,” Gitima shares.

Project Sashakt has also opened doors beyond their villages. Participating in Bharat Tex 2026 in New Delhi became an unforgettable experience.

“It was our first time visiting Delhi. We had never imagined we would travel there. When we returned, everyone in the village wanted to hear about our experience and what it was like,” the women recall with excitement.

Learning also gave them the confidence to embrace technology.

“We used to be afraid of using PhonePe, but our mentors patiently taught us. Now we’re no longer scared,” Gitima says with a smile.

For these women, learning did not end with mastering new weaving techniques or business skills. It became a journey of confidence, independence, and self-belief—proving that when women continue to learn, they continue to grow, opening new possibilities for themselves, their families, and their communities.