Rationale of Handicraft on Women Employment in Rural Area: A case study on Jari workers of Bhagawangola-II Block, Murshidabad District, West Bengal

 

Ananya Chakraborty

 

Guest Lecturer, Department of Geography, Berhampore College, Murshidabad, West Bengal

ABSTRACT

Handicrafts like Jari kari have emerged as a way of living for the people of remote areas.  Bhagawangola-II Block of Murshidabad is one of the riverine hazard prone areas often expecting natural threat with the destructive velour of Padma river, worsening woos due to changing courses of the river leading to submergence and emergence of land. The chars (riverine islands) of the stated block experiences the turmoil of nature surviving there with minimal living, uncertain agriculture, poverty, poor communications and last but not the least with an unstructured economy. The women being the foremost agent to acclimatize for family has opted a dual role by not only arranging household works by earning back in home from jari kari. The present study was conducted over purposively selected char areas of Bhagawangola-II block of Murshidabad district intending to assess the socio-economic-conditions of women associated with jari kari, evaluate its role, identify the factors forcing karigars to such activities and problems accustomed. Primary data was collected over randomly selected 75 female workers associated with jari kari using structured questionnaire. After analyzing the data with descriptive statistical tools it reveals that limited scope of employment and uncertain agricultural activities resulting from proneness to riverine hazard solely influence the involvement of local female into this activity. It aids in generating employment opportunities and thus raising empowerment of female folk successfully. Improper marketing facility is identified as foremost problem by respondent hampering jari kari activities deliberately in situ. Suggestions for advancement are recommended to aid for the twinkling activity that almost lies unattended in the study area.

 

KEY WORDS: Jari kari, riverine hazard, chars, socio-economic, employment opportunities.

 

INTRODUCTION:

Jari Motifs or jari kari is one of the handicrafts which are our exotic artistic heritage with roots in Iran and prehistoric India. The handicrafts and handloom sector is the largest economic activity after agriculture. The Indian handicrafts are customarily made by rural artisans well known for their charm and craftsmanship. Rural India accounts to about 78.2% of total handicrafts produced in the country, with most of them as self-employed (Sengupta 2011). Though this has been a generation wise skill, limited to caste and section borders, now-a-days occupation ordained is fading by arrival of skilled workers in search of additional income. Besides household work, women spend spare time in crafts like embroidery, jari works, etc., thus making gender specific livelihood. Around 23 percentage of village people mostly women are engaged in jari work (Khara et al. 2013).

The craft initially used kasap or golden and silver threads had karigars (embroiders) of both arir kaj and jari kaj. Known for various tools used during conceptions, the craft flourished during the rule of Muslim rulers, jari kari initially spread in north and west India and were generally practised by Muslims. At present Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal are well known for the art with engagement of people from different communities. The development of handicraft sector may encompass the much needed rural development in India, yet a limited attention is paid on modernization of handicraft sector and people associated with it. West Bengal – as earlier said is an important handicraft cluster experiences a remarkable growth with many Muslim skilled workers in this industry. Murshidabad district is one of the potential jari kari areas enjoying glory for its antique and unique craftsman products in and outside the state. The present study area, Mahismara Char lies on the bank of river Padma in Bhagawangola-II block of Murshidabad is hazard prone to dominant riverine hazards, are bank erosion , flood and sand splay; with most of the livelihood are directly or indirectly affected. This char falls on Akheriganj GP (Gram Panchyat) of Bhagawangola II block which is the most vulnerable point not only in the block but also in Murshidabad. The ravages caused by Padma at Akhriganj of Bhagawangola-II in 1989 and 1990 surpassed all previous records. The Akheriganj disappeared from the map destroying 2766 houses, leaving 23,394 persons homeless, most of the people migrated to the newly emerged Nirmal char along the opposite bank (Banerjee, 1999). Thus, the locals belonging to different occupations are exposed to vulnerability, have by any way or other faced the risk, which varies with the degree of hazards taking place (Chakraborty, 2013). Thus, the locals belonging to different occupations are exposed to vulnerability, have by any way or other faced the risk, which varies with the degree of hazards taking place (Chakraborty 2013). As most of the people are engaged in agricultural activities in the char, hazards abet economic uncertainty with most of the other family members engaged in supplementary source of income. To compensate the present price hike due to inflation and meet ends for survival, the female folk both skilled and unskilled are forming groups to start cottage business of jari kari in situ.

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY:

Shifting and course along with siltation of Padma River has aided to river bank widening resulting to grasping of surrounding land, erratic aggradations and degradations thus in due course of time experiences emergence, submergence of land temporarily (at least 30 – 50 years).  The long river bank in Bhagawangola-II block of Murshidabad is such hazard prone with most of the livelihood are directly or indirectly based on Padma. The present study area is on such hazard prone area formed due to emergence of land on river bed i.e. riverine island – locally known as char. Majher char, also known as Mahismara char; as locally named so includes Munsurpur, Akherigang, Rajagola, Mobarakgang mouza and part of Hasanpur, Debaipur, Giridharipur, Gopiramanpur mouzas. The char has emerged around 35 years ago and then after since a hiatus has been inhabited. Due to small area and recent emergence, the population is quite low with few parts still uninhabited. The ownership of the land is determined by the mouza map as it is used as property map. In such circumstances most of the inhabitants in situ are not having any land ownership. They use the land on lease by paying for mere name sake. As the region is detached from mainland, employment sector is rationally low compared with the other areas of the same block. Adding to woos transportation facilities restricts from further development with conventional media of transport changing at every point. The commoners live with uncertain future conditions and erratic hazard proneness where the piece of land populated can any when change in the near upcoming. Immense poverty compels them to indulge in search of other economic activities apart from agriculture. Women take the foremost role in this regard by engaging themselves in handicraft sector mainly jari kari which can help to earn returns after completing domestic work thus playing a dual role at the same time and same location. The present study shows torch light on such relevant topic from geographers view point.

 

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:

The present study is on Majher char, also known as Mahismara char; as locally named so includes Munsurpur, Akherigang, Rajagola, Mobarakgang and part of Hasanpur, Debaipur, Giridharipur, Gopiramanpur mouzas. There is even no inclusion on government data base about such char. Due to the unavailability of proper secondary data, the present work entirely depends upon primary data. As the population figure is not sufficient, 75 respondents are interviewed during field survey. The sample is too small regarding the universe (Bhagawangola-II block).

Lack of proper transport and communication, the area is remote thus; the data was collected only at a time. Hence, temporal change has not been shown in the study area.

 

OBJECTIVES:

   i.      To analyze the socio-economic condition of women associated with jari kari.

  ii.      To assess the roles of jari kari sector in employment generation.

iii.      To identify the constraints of jari kari sector at the study area.

iv.      To suggest possible measures for an effective development of jari kari sector at the study area.

 

 

 

HYPOTHESES:

H_o1: Engagement in jari kari activities is not due to proneness of riverine hazard curbing other employment opportunities.

H_o2: Improper marketing facility is not a serious problem to maintain Jari Kari activities.

 

STUDY AREA:

The present study area, Bhagawangola-II block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal lies between 24º13′24′′ and 24º23′38′′ north latitudes and 88º18′2′′ and 88º 32′ east longitudes (Figure 1). It covers an area of about 175.26 sq. km. It has the population of 129899, among which 66849 are males and 63050 are females. The total number of household is 25851. The population density of the study area is 876 persons per sq. km. (Census of India, 2001). The block has 351 male main workers (0.694% of total) engaged in household industry and 285 female main workers (14.102% of total) engaged in household industry.

 

 

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

The entire study is based upon primary sources of data. Depending upon the involvement of local people and their unique cause for involvement, the Char areas have been purposively chosen from Bhagawangola-II block. An intense field survey based on face-to-face interview has been performed over the study area using well structured questionnaire employing opinionnaire method to the end part of the questionnaire. 75 embroider respondents attached with the handicraft were randomly chosen.

 

Using descriptive statistical technique, the obtained data were analyzed. Z- test statistical technique was applied to confirm the stated hypotheses.

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:

Socio-economic background of Jari karigars:

As per as the study is concerned, almost all the women folk engaged in handicraft sector belong to Muslim community group. Due to socio-economic state of affairs a large section of women inhabitants are compelled to take jari kari as a means of livelihood. Though most of the respondents have their own workshop, just a negligible are engaged as hired labour in the study area.

 

Since attachment in Jari Kari able women to support family income, it thus generates a scope for better women empowerment by ensuring unequivocally better involvement of female into family decision making process. Though embroidery handicraft production is subjected to cottage base industry still female folk from conservative families have candidly involve themselves in such occupation liberally. It is better to indulge in cottage base industry rather outdoor occupation for maintaining family household for women.

 

Regarding age distribution of karigars (embroiders) the study reveals that highest portion i.e. 37.34 percent of karigars are aged between 20 to 40 years followed by 33.34 percent in between 40 to 60 years. Due of minimum energy requirement a handful portion of karigars aged above 60 years too attached with jari kari sector in the study area (Table 1).

 

Table 1. Age composition of karigars in Jari Kari industry

 

Table 2 represents educational status of karigars attached with jari kari industry at the study area. As per the present study 33.34 percent karigars though were admitted in primary schools, latter had left due to drop-outs, run-outs, marriage etc. It is followed by 29.34 percent having primary education and 14.67 percent having secondary or higher secondary level education respectively. The rest i.e. 22.86 percent are illiterate and mostly belong to the age group of 40-60 and above 60 years.

Table 2. Educational status of karigars in Jari Kari industry

 

 

Table 3 portrays average annual income of the respondent from jari kari sector in the study area. More than half of karigars (52%) earn less than Rs.5000 annually from jari kari activity. It is followed by 30.67 percent between Rs.5000-10000, 14.67 percent between Rs 10000-15000 and 2.67 percent above Rs.15000.

 

 

 

Table 3. Annual household income (in Rs.) of karigars of Jari Kari sector

 

 

Table 4 shows the family size of the karigars. The study area experiences numerous joint families rather than nucleus one, thus, family size is gradually larger of the karigars. 54.67 percent respondents have above 6 members in family, followed by 36 percent 4-6 members and 9.34 percent below 4 members in family at the study area.

 

Table 4. Family size of the karigars

 

Relevance of Jari kari Sector in women employment at the study area

Proper supervision and administration, jari kari industry can aid to women employment process by means of societal upliftment created through economic possibility thus raising the self-worth and self earning capacity in women. Jari kari industry emerged as an effective means of livelihood in resent present at the study area. Despite the district backwardness this exotic art craft adds some impetus to socio-economic development of people like in the present study area.

 

Engagement of female workers represents the choice of freedom to manage them in earning capacity, but if it is for conservative group, poverty can only be the cause. Whatsoever is the factor earning returns only speaks. Involvement in paid work leads the empowerment of women to a large extent as experience in the case of Murshidabad district (Kundu et al. 2012). Thus, a routine flow of income can able the women in sharing the family decision making process with other members. As study area had only women involvement in such activity most have taken this as their primary source of income. Table 5 represents that while 82.67 percent respondent takes jari kari as a foremost source of employment, rest 17.33 percent respondents have it as a supplementary source of employment.

 

 

Table 5. Importance of jari work in employment generation

 

 

Table 6 exhibits role of jari kari in creating man days in a year at the study area. Almost 42.67 percent of respondents are employed for 150-200 days in a year, followed by 29.34 percent for 100-150 and 21.34 percent for above 200 days in a year. A least portion i.e. 6.67 percent of respondents receives employment for below 100 days in a year.

 

Table 6. Man days in a year created through jari work

 

 

Factors for engagement in Jari Kari activities at the study area

Jari kari is not a widespread activities persisting at the whole block, it is developed in some char areas of Bhagawangola-II block at the cost of mass involvement of women. Development of such activity is not the outcome of a single catalyst rather it is the result of an array of factors that together influences its set up. Table 7 provides an account of the factors influencing engagement of rural women in jari kari.

 

 

 

Table 7. Factors responsible for engagement in jari kari activities

 

As stated earlier the char areas of Bhagawangola-II block experiencing various form of riverine hazards like shifting course of river, bank erosion, sandsplay, source of employment is the confined only to agricultural activities. Highest portion i.e. 62.67% of respondents opined that engagement in jari kari is due to the proneness to riverine hazard curbing other employment opportunities. Agriculture, the predominant economic activity of the study area is being hampered in the rainy season for more than three months as most of the cultivable land is submerged under monsoon floodwater. Above 50% respondents identifies uncertainty with agriculture in jari kari works. Most of the people in situ is quite insecure as they do not possess own land holdings. 28% respondents opt for jari kari to sustain from such insecurity. Jari kari is that type of activity which allows the family women in engagement there in by maintaining the daily household work of family and shielding conservativeness. 48% respondents decided to take this activity to support family income without facing any objection from family head or members. Detached from mainland the dwellers of the char hardly manage their livelihoods. As a consequent to this, immense poverty is quite frequent among them compelling to indulge in more than an earning activity. 42.67% respondent plump for involvement in jari kari activities as a way out to immense poverty at the study area.

 

H_o1: Engagement in jari kari activities is not due to proneness of riverine hazard curbing other employment opportunities.

 

As per table 7, it is found that,

P =47 = 62.67% = 0.627

P₀ = 0.5

N = 75

 

 

The calculated value of Z is 2.20 which is greater than the critical value of Z = 1.96. Hence it rejects the null hypothesis and accepts the alternate hypothesis that engagement in jari kari activities is due to proneness of riverine hazard curbing other employment opportunities.

 

Problems to maintain Jari Kari activities at the study area

The jari kari activity though emerged as a result to convalesce the poverty and support anxious economy, is battling with some of the budding problems. Women based handicraft right on home or at stone through distance remains as dupe of unattended problems. For most of the male folks never take the activity that is grace with the women folk’s presence seriously. The women coming from conservative families thus having less access to the outer world and after a long day engagement in household affairs; are ignorant about modern motifs (design on cloths), unaware about the marketing techniques, sluiced by price hike of raw materials,  and swindled by middlemen only to earn a handful penny of profit

 

Table 8. Problems to maintain Jari Kari activities

 

Retention and maintenance of jari kari activity goes through plenty of problems remaining unsolved. Highest portion i.e. 72% of respondents opined that improper marketing facilities is a main trouble for the karigars in situ. The process to produce the good in the market is linked persons attached to it.  Above 49% respondents identifies high prices of raw materials as an important problem. The people in situ are poor as they do not possess own land holdings hence arrangement of a handful amount at a time for buying raw materials is hardly possible for them. Adding to woos, price hike restricts from required purchase. 30% respondents are not satisfied with the output of labour capital. The output from labour expended does not earn the deserved returns. Middlemen are an icon of harassment since time immortal. They hoodwink the female as nothing ever thus swiping away the essence of such handicraft. More than 25% of respondents think it as a bewitch problem.  Women engagement in Jari kari has to perform dual role by maintaining both the household chaos and supporting economy all under the veil of conservativeness. 28% respondents remarked that less time given to such craft restricts from spanning the activity. Separated from mainland the karigars are on the leeward side of modernisation. They use the age old design and motifs. Trendifiying with latest update motifs will drag more demand. 24% of respondents think so.

 

H_o2: Improper marketing facility is not a serious problem to maintain Jari Kari activities.

As per table 8, it is found that,

P = 54 = 72% = 0.72

P₀ = 0.5

N = 75

 

 

The computed Z = 3.81 is greater than the critical Z = 1.96. Therefore the result rejects the stated null hypothesis and supports the alternative hypothesis i.e. improper marketing facility is a serious problem to Jari Kari activities at the study area.

 

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

In a riverine vulnerable site especially like that of the present study area sticking to mere primary occupation, though earns yield will not be a superlative decision. Risk prone people are more acclimative in nature, and it is this adaptability which forces them to take the shape of the vessel like whatever disaster thus, manage and find a scope of way out, of course which is related to economy. Erratic moral fibre of vulnerability, escorts to paucity and sometimes itinerancy for a settled occupation, plunges them further into vicious circle of poverty. Since rural area of Murshidabad district is characterized with very low level of development, development of jari kari activities can perk up the livelihood of massive rural poor people attached with it and thus hasten the rural development processes in situ.

 

In such circumstances it is convenient to make recommendation that can manoeuvre for rural development via jari kari activities at the study area. Marketing is limited in the study area with insufficient selling in the local. Effective marketing strategies at block level connected with district level headed by government agency can creates a scope to propagate products outside the known boundaries. Rising price of raw materials has stuck the embroiders back to wall owing to low price obtained from single sell. Local government interferences are required for ensuring raw materials at convenient prices for the female employed in situ. Workshop and group classes can be held to standardise the craft and to enhance in the embroiders modern designs and trends going on to facilitate and meet the present demands. Financial assistance in form of short term loan on uncomplicated conditions will be helpful to jari karigars as lack of monetary support restricts from proper development. Organisations like Self Help Groups or formation of co-operative societies will be beneficial for them. It will act as the bridge between government and root level workers.

 

REFERENCES:

1.        Bannerjee, M. 1999. Report on ‘The Impact of Farakka Barrage on the Human Fabric – A Study of the Upstream and Downstream Areas of Farakka Barrage’, Submitted to World Commission on Dams: Thematic Review: Flood Control Options And Many other thematic Reviews, On Behalf of South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). New Delhi.

2.        Chakraborty, A. 2013. ‘Perception - based Hazard Vulnerability Assessment among different Community groups: A Case Study on Alaipur and Sankarpur Mouzas of Bhagawangola-II Block, Murshidabad District’, Paper Presented at National seminar on ‘Rivers, Floods and Sustainability Management’, University of GourBanga, Malda, West Bengal.

3.        Khara, U and Das, B. 2013. Importance of Self-Employment and Microfinance in Rural Development- A Case Study on Jari Embroidery Industry of Hooghly in India, The International Journal of Engineering and Science, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 121-125

4.        Kundu, S.K. and Chakraborty, A. 2012. An Empirical Analysis of Women Empowerment within Muslim Community in Murshidabad District of West Bengal, India, Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, Vol.2, No.6, pp. 1-11.

5.        National Council of Applied Economic Research 2010. Handloom Census of India- 2009-10, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, New Delhi.

6.       Sengupta, J. 2011. Indian Handicraft and Handloom Workers, Life and Working Conditions in Villages- A Brief Survey, ORF Working Paper Series, Observed Research Foundation, New Delhi.