Nagpur: An advanced wood processing and training centre built at a cost of 1.6 crore has opened at Alapalli in Gadchiroli to convert the district’s famed teak from raw forest produce into finished furniture and keep value, employment and profit inside the district. What’s heartwarming is that the Alapalli success story is driven by tribal women.
District collector Avishyant Panda last week inaugurated the centre and said the project would turn a forest-rich but industrially thin district into a place that retains the last stage of value addition. Gadchiroli teak has already been used in nationally important work linked to Prime Minister’s Office, Central Secretariat, Central Vista and Bharat Mandapam.
Expansion of Women’s Employment in Gadchiroli Teak Sector
The operational center in Gadchiroli has been functioning for a year and a half, currently employing nearly 20 women. This initiative has led to a noticeable increase in demand for Gadchiroli teak at the national level. According to project leader Panda, the next objective for this year is to secure approval for a pellet production unit, which could potentially raise women’s employment to 100.
Training is a fundamental component of this project. Women who have completed the training course are already producing various wooden items such as tables and trays, demonstrating that skills can be developed to generate income.