Rs 1.64 crore NITI Aayog grant approved, Lakhipur block’s pineapple gets fresh push

way2barak, January 2 :- In a significant boost to agri-based innovation and sustainable livelihood generation in Cachar district, the National Institution for Transforming India (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 accorded during the 47th Meeting of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for the Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks Programme, held on November 20, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, New Delhi, through video conferencing. The decision was formally communicated on January 2, 2026, by Under Secretary to the Government of India (Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme).

The sanctioned proposal pertains to Lakhipur Block of Cachar district, Assam, and envisages the establishment of a Zero Waste Pineapple Innovation Hub with a project duration of one year and three months. With a total project outlay of Rs 1,64,00,000, the initiative will focus on value addition, employment generation and environmental sustainability, ensuring optimum utilisation 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 of Lakhipur Block. By adopting a zero-waste approach, the initiative aims to align economic growth with ecological responsibility.

Welcoming the approval, District Commissioner, Cachar, Mridul Yadav described the sanction as a milestone for the district’s agrarian economy. He stated that the Rs 1.64 crore grant for pineapple processing and zero-waste innovation in Lakhipur Block is a landmark step towards sustainable rural development and will not only enhance value addition of locally grown pineapple but also generate employment and empower farmers and entrepreneurs. He further affirmed that Cachar district is committed to the effective implementation of the project in alignment with the vision of NITI Aayog.

With this approval, Lakhipur joins the growing list of Aspirational Blocks leveraging targeted central support to unlock local potential, reinforcing the broader national objective of inclusive, sustainable and outcome-driven development.

This is stated in a press release issued by the Regional Office of Information and Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar, Assam.