IIT Bombay’s pioneering pilot project ‘Jeevodaya’, supported by Coal India Limited’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding, has marked a major milestone in sustainable and ethical silk production, following three years of continuous research and development.
Implemented by IIT Bombay’s Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (C-TARA), the project has successfully developed a novel, non-violent silk manufacturing technology that allows silkworms to complete their natural life cycle — a first-of-its-kind scientific achievement in sericulture.
Unlike conventional silk production, where cocoons are boiled to extract silk—resulting in the death of millions of silkworms—the Jeevodaya process enables silkworms to spin silk threads on a flat surface without forming cocoons. After producing silk, the silkworms are allowed to transform into moths, giving rise to what is now called “Jeevodaya Silk”—a humane and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional silk.
This compassionate innovation challenges centuries-old practices and redefines silk production through science-driven empathy. After extensive experimentation, C-TARA researchers achieved the rare feat of training silkworms to produce silk without cocooning, allowing them to eventually fly free as moths.
The project reflects the spirit of ancient Indian philosophy:
“Ma Kashchid Dukhbhag Bhavet” — May no one suffer.
Coal India Limited played a pivotal role in translating this concept into reality through sustained CSR support, enabling laboratory research, field trials, and pilot implementation. Beyond its ethical and environmental significance, the technology offers a new, sustainable income stream for sericulture farmers, strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting inclusive growth.
With the successful completion of the Jeevodaya pilot, the initiative now holds strong potential for large-scale adoption, positioning India as a global leader in ethical silk production while reinforcing the impact of PSU-led CSR in grassroots innovation.
