HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 2: In a significant push for agri-based innovation and sustainable livelihoods in Cachar district, NITI Aayog has approved a grant of Rs 1.64 crore for the “Lakhipur Zero Waste Pineapple Innovation” project under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).
The approval was granted during the 47th Meeting of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme, held on November 20, 2025, under the chairmanship of the CEO, NITI Aayog, through video conferencing. The decision was formally communicated on January 2, 2026, by the Under Secretary to the Government of India (Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme).
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The sanctioned proposal focuses on Lakhipur Block in Cachar district, Assam and envisions establishing a Zero Waste Pineapple Innovation Hub over a project period of one year and three months. With a total outlay of Rs 1.64 crore, the initiative aims at value addition, employment generation and environmental sustainability, ensuring optimal use of pineapple produce and its by-products with minimal waste.
The project is expected to strengthen the local pineapple value chain through processing, innovation, and skill development, while creating new livelihood opportunities for farmers, women self-help groups and rural youth in Lakhipur Block. By adopting a zero-waste approach, it aligns economic growth with ecological responsibility.
Welcoming the approval, District Commissioner Cachar, Mridul Yadav, IAS, described the sanction as a milestone for the district’s agrarian economy. He noted that the grant will enhance value addition of locally grown pineapples, generate employment and empower farmers and entrepreneurs. He also affirmed Cachar district’s commitment to implementing the project in line with NITI Aayog’s vision.
With this approval, Lakhipur joins other Aspirational Blocks leveraging targeted central support to unlock local potential, reinforcing the broader national goal of inclusive, sustainable and outcome-driven development.
