Mumbai: IIT Bombay’s Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas has developed an innovative silk production technique that allows silkworms to live out their full natural life cycle, marking a major shift away from traditional, lethal practices in sericulture. The three-year pilot project, titled Jeevodaya, has been supported by Coal India Ltd under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
Under the Jeevodaya model, silkworms feeding on mulberry leaves are trained to lay silk threads on flat surfaces rather than spinning cocoons. This allows the worms to later transform into moths, unlike conventional silk extraction processes in which cocoons are boiled, killing millions of silkworms to obtain raw silk.
The new method, branded as Jeevodaya Silk, is rooted in compassion and sustainability. The approach draws inspiration from the ancient Indian principle “Ma kaschit dukha bhag bhavet”, meaning “may no one suffer,” reflecting an ethical alternative to traditional silk production.
Coal India Ltd described the project as a significant scientific breakthrough achieved after sustained research and development. In a statement, the company said the pilot project has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of producing silk without harming silkworms, opening new possibilities for ethical and sustainable textile production.
Coal India played a key role in financing the project from its conceptual stage to successful execution. With the pilot now complete, the initiative is expected to be scaled up for wider adoption, potentially providing sustainable income opportunities for sericulture farmers and strengthening rural livelihoods while promoting humane production practices.
