A Study on the Socio-Economic Condition of Bamboo Mat Manufacturing Female Artisans of Assam with Special Reference to Kuriha Village

Abstract

In North-Eastern region of India including Assam, small scale industries like cottage, handicraft industries have been playing a very significant role in its economy. Bamboo production and manufacturing of different bamboo-based products are providing source of livelihood for a large section of society in Assam; especially for rural poor and home-based female workers in the unorganized sector. Kuriha village is now identified as a cluster which is the largest producer and exporter of bamboo mat in Assam. The main objective of this paper is to study the socio-economic conditions of female artisans those are engaged in the production of bamboo mat with reference to Kuriha village. The study is basically based on primary data that is collected from 250 female manufacturers of Kuriha village and the local traders. The study reveals that the socio-economic status of the female artisans of the village is not favorable one. They are still lagging behind in case of formal education, proper sanitation and housing facilities, using LPG, different types of Government facilities and incentives, etc. and the main reason behind their low living standard is identified as depriving them from descent wage or earnings by intermediaries. So, this paper is offering different policy measures that should be jointly taken by the Government and other private organization in order to improve the conditions of those female artisans and thus expecting for the rapid expansion of bamboo mat enterprise by engaging more employment opportunities in near future.