Socio-Economic Condition Of Women Weavers: A Study Conducted In Kosukhat Village Under Titabar Block, Jorhat District, Assam

Abstract

Weaving in India is a household, home based enterprise. This is the only manufacturing sector where one finds a large number of women producing such products, which are worn by mostly women. However, it has always been an ongoing struggle for women weavers which remains mostly concealed.

This paper throws a light on the socio-economic condition of women weavers in Kosukhat village under Titabar Block, Jorhat District, Assam. According to the American Psychological Association, socioeconomic status is commonly conceptualized as the social standing or class of an individualized group. It often reveals inequities in access to resources and issues related to privilege, power and control. Thus, the main objectives of the study are, (a) to assess the socio-conomic condition of Kosukhat women weavers, (b) to understand their problems, and (c) to offer suggestions for their betterment.

The study is based on the primary data. The results display that a majority (around 82%) of women weavers in Kosukhat village believe that weaving cannot be taken as a full-time profession due to various obstacles. These are domestic problems, lack of access to raw materials, lack of livelihood -based skill training, and various other problems.

According to Handloom Census 2013, nearly 78 percent of handloom weavers in India are women among which Assam records the highest. Thus, the significance of the paper is to throw light on the actual situation of the women weavers in a rural village called Kosukhat under Titabor block, Jorhat district, Assam.