McLeod Russel started the Bodo Handloom Scheme (BHS) in 1995 at the Borengajuli Tea Estate, Udalguri, Assam for the benefit of the local women of the Bodo tribe.

This novel and unique scheme promotes the traditional weaving skills and enables Bodo women to generate extra income whilst working from home.   This has improved the standard of living for hundreds of families in the area.

The local and ethnic handloom products are proving to be immensely popular and sell well through various outlets and at the Trade fair in Assam and elsewhere in India.

By generating employment and income for the local womenfolk the scheme has improved the social and economic conditions of the local tribal population in and around Borengajuli Tea Estate.

Today, yarn is procured locally at wholesale rates, dyed near Borengajuli before being distributed amongst the weavers.  An office and a store for yarn and finished goods have been provided to the scheme by the tea estate and it is here that the weavers gather, twice a week. Providing yarn free of costs to weavers, who currently number 140, is the first step. Thereafter guidance in design, colour combinations, sizes and finish of the products ensure that a consistent quality is maintained.

In the last three years, a number of sales have been organised in Guwahati, initially with the help of well-known bodies such as North Eastern Women’s Entrepreneurs’ Association and the Crafts Council of India.

BHS meets the hospital linen requirements of almost all the McLeod Russel tea gardens in both Assam and Dooars. From the initial capital made available (interest free) by McLeod Russel and orders from within the group has provided continuous and steady work to all the weavers over the last nine years.

The support we provide the scheme has been unstinted and is part of our groups Social Responsibility programme.

The BHS is now working with Yorkshire Tea to promote BHS products in the UK. Yorkshire Tea will be donating all sale proceeds to the BHS.