ITC Sunrise Spices has launched Udyoini, a purpose-driven initiative aimed at recognising and empowering women changemakers across Assam, marking International Women’s Day. Organised in collaboration with Red FM 93.5, the platform felicitated 15 women achievers from various districts of the state whose entrepreneurial and social contributions have significantly impacted their communities.
The initiative brought together key institutional stakeholders and government representatives including Smt. Moyuri Ojha, Director of Handloom & Textiles, Ambari, Guwahati; Smti Manju Rani Gogoi Talukdar, Joint Director at the Commissionerate of Industries & Commerce, Assam Udyog Bhawan; Shri Mara Kocho, Managing Director of North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd (NEHHDC); Shri Omkarnath Rath, COO from the Department of Innovation, Incubation & Startups, Government of Assam; and Shri Shouvik Chanda, Head and Director of Bureau of Indian Standards, Guwahati. Their participation highlighted the importance of ecosystem partnerships in strengthening grassroots entrepreneurship. Among the awardees were Dalimi Devi, a retired teacher who educates underprivileged children and trains school dropout girls in knitting and stitching; Debayani Bhuyan, a chef from Beltola who runs two office canteens promoting Northeast tribal cuisine; journalist Darshana Baruah; and entrepreneur Anushka Das, founder of Anurupa Studio.
Speaking at the event, Piyush Mishra, Business Head of Sunrise Spices at ITC Ltd., said the brand aims to expand its impact beyond households by providing recognition and growth pathways to women entrepreneurs and community leaders. Representatives from NEHHDC and the Department of Innovation, Incubation & Startups noted that platforms like Udyoini help provide institutional visibility and strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship. In Guwahati, such initiatives can help accelerate the growth of women-led micro and small enterprises in the region. As the city continues to emerge as a key commercial hub of the Northeast, stronger institutional linkages, visibility and recognition for grassroots entrepreneurs could translate into better market access, collaborations and business opportunities for local women-led ventures.
