Bhubaneswar, Oct 14 : Fast moving consumer goods major ITC Wednesday signed a deal with Orissa for manufacturing incense sticks in the state - a move that officials say will provide additional income to more than 3,000 rural women.

The agreement was signed by the chief executive of the state-run Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) B. N. Das, and ITC executive director V. M. Rajsekharan in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

As per the deal, ORMAS will provide raw materials required for incense sticks or agarbattis to women through self-help groups. ITC will provide support in the form of capacity building and monitor quality, a senior ORMAS official told IANS.

ITC has also assured the state government to set up a scented and packaging unit in Bhubaneswar soon.

A large number of women are involved in rolling agarbattis which are used by ITC - one of the leading marketers of incense sticks manufactured by the small scale sector in India.

ITC's "Mangaldeep" is one of the leading agarbatti brands in India.

"ITC's partnership with ORMAS will not only help establish a supply chain model for raw battis but also contribute to value addition through the establishment of a perfuming and packaging centre for Mangaldeep brand agarbattis in Orissa," ITC said in a statement.(IANS)