Fostering Women Empowerment through Handloom

Abstract

Introduction: Handloom has a greater role to play towards local development and economic growth. Especially in rural parts of India, women are skilled with art of weaving. It has significance in culture and earning livelihood. Presently, handloom in India is facing downfall due to co – existence of power loom. Government through several schemes has extended their services in encouraging handloom items. These initiatives to some extend are contributing towards women empowerment and women entrepreneurship. However, these handful numbers of schemes are insufficient to provide comprehensive protection and recognition to the handloom weavers and dresses produced by them.

Objectives: The role played by the women entrepreneurs for eradication of poverty and industrial developments is discussed in this paper by analyzing the schemes presently implemented in Kokrajhar district. Also the applicability of international conventions concerning women empowerment and traditional knowledge are interpreted. The need for achieving women empowerment to attain Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 envisioned by United Nations Organization is dealt in this paper.

Methods: The author has conducted empirical and non – empirical study for this paper. The researcher has collected both primary and secondary sources of data. As far as primary sources of data are concerned, the author has collected data by conducting an interview on employees of Handloom department, Kokrajhar district of Bodoland Territorial Region. For the secondary sources text books, Bare Acts, internet documents, articles, research papers, international covenants, and thesis are referred.

Results: Handloom is facing competition from the power loom. The power loom industry produces more cheaply and more quickly. Because handloom items are more expensive, only a small portion of the population can afford to purchase them, whereas a much greater portion chooses fabrics from power looms. As a result of the modern textile industry's rapid technological advancement and automation, many high-quality synthetic and cotton textile products are now produced in large quantities, forcing power looms to compete fiercely with handlooms for market share. Lack of awareness among consumers in distinguishing the handloom and power loom products is another ground for the downfall of handloom. To extend support to the handloom weavers the local government recently has introduced new schemes in Kokrajhar district. Capacity Building Program using ICT tools and Technology to Enhance Livelihood of Weavers / Artisans of B.T.R, Swarnibhaar Naari Scheme and Handloom Mark Project are found to be the present active schemes in Kokrajhar district.

Conclusions: Women through handloom can become independent entrepreneurs and help eradicate poverty too. The need for intervention by the government to regularize schemes and enact effective legislations for the production of certain items only through handloom will be analyzed in this paper. A legislative law can ensure equity for prevailing of justice and achieve Sustainable Development Goals, (SDG) 2030, an agenda by United Nations Organization.