In Assam’s Kakoijana, women craft livelihoods while protecting golden langurs

An initiative in Assam’s Bongaigaon district is seeking to combine golden langur conservation with livelihood opportunities for local women, while promoting Kakoijana as a destination for tourists.
 

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has organised a seven-day training programme for women at Bhauriapara in Kakoijana, a known habitat of the endangered golden langur.
 

The programme aims to equip local women with skills to develop handicraft products and explore opportunities to become financially self-reliant. It is also intended to create a connection between conservation and local livelihoods by promoting products inspired by the region’s wildlife and culture.
 

During the training, the women are learning to make a range of handicraft items, including handbags, key rings and other products.
 

The initiative also seeks to attract domestic and international tourists to Kakoijana and showcase the golden langur and its habitat to a wider audience.
 

Zankla Studio will facilitate an online marketplace to help sell the products made by the women, giving them access to customers beyond the local market.
 

Royal Enfield has provided financial support for the training programme.
 

The initiative is aimed at creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities living around the golden langur habitat while strengthening efforts to conserve the endangered primate.