Mahila Kisan Sashaktkaran Pariyojana (MKSP): Reeling sustainability in the tasar sericulture based tribal livelihoods through alternative market support systems

Silk-‘Queen of Textiles’ has garnered attention in recent times due to its popularity and given that India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China, the interwoven role silk plays in the economic, social, environmental and cultural context of the people's livelihoods is evident. Of all silks, tropical tasar which has immense potential to address many of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), has also many inherent issues viz., timely supply of silkworm seed, lack of institutional support in extension and marketing etc. The pioneering programme, ‘Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana’ under NTFP stream, a collaborative initiative by the Central Silk Board with the support of the Ministry of Rural Development in Central and North India has revolutionized the tasar production through creation of sustainable and replicable models of rural entrepreneurship, empowerment of women through self-employment and collectives, avoiding middle men in tasar value chain through collective procurement and marketing, ecological restoration through raising/rejuvenation of host plants and carbon sequestration etc. A brief analysis of this programme since inception substantiates the vital role it holds in the critical areas viz., seed supply, productivity levels, cocoon price, collective marketing, incremental income augmentation etc., so as to realize the project objectives.