Empowering Women through Handicraft: Special reference to Chhattisgarh

¹Archana Sethi, ²Nirmal Ram Netam

¹School of Studies in Economics, Pt.Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur

²School of StudiesEconomics, Pt.Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur

Abstract

The study, Empowering Women through Handicraft : Special reference to Chhattisgarh, explores the economic empowerment of women through their involvement in the handicraft sector in Chhattisgarh. It highlights that rural women, by engaging in handicrafts, gain control over economic resources, contributing to household spending and decision-making. The study aims to estimate the impact of women’s employment and earnings from the handicraft sector on their economic empowerment . The handicraft industry holds a prominent position and has become a major driver of the chhattisgarh economy. Being environmentally benign and labour-intensive, the industry serves as a logical creative outlet for artisans' self-expression in addition to creating jobs for the economy's growth. For communities as a whole and for female artisans specifically, these sectors constitute a significant source of revenue. Women's productive jobs and handicrafts offer them a unique economic freedom that makes being an artisan a key part of their identity. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the situation of women's economic empowerment through handicrafts.The study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, collecting data from 180 respondents. Findings suggest after  Joining Handicraft Industry Women Empowerment Index is 69.3%, 5.9 % more handicraft women's empowered after joining Handicraft Industry.

Keywords: Handicraft, Dhokra, Teracotta, Empowerment of women, Entrepreneurship.

Introduction:

The handicraft sector in Chhattisgarh is a significant contributor to the state's economy, employing millions of artisans and generating substantial revenue. However, the sector faces numerous challenges that hinder its growth and development. The handicraft industry has the potential to empower women in rural areas by providing them with economic opportunities and social recognition. This case study examines the impact of the handicraft industry on women's empowerment in Chhattisgarh. Most of the handicraft workers in Chhattisgarh are rural women. Engaging with this informal sector can help these women gaining access to and control over economic resources through spending and earnings for the household. The current study aims to estimate the impact of women’s employment and earnings from the handicraft sector on their economic empowerment in Chhattisgarh. Globally, governments and development groups have made women's empowerment a top focus. Even in industrialized nations, it is recognized that women are likely to experience prejudice in a variety of ways. Women's participation in the economy can support both gender empowerment and economic growth (Rahman et al., 2015). As a result, taking part in entrepreneurial endeavors may support the cause of women's empowerment. Women's involvement in business is still minimal in chhattisgarh.

Background

Study area Baster,Narayanpur,Kondagaon ,Jashpur,Raigarh and Gariyabandh District of Chhattisgarh  is a rural district with a high poverty rate and limited job opportunities for women. The handicraft industry, particularly the production of traditional crafts such as Dhokra , Bamboo,Teracotta ,Iron Craft,Wooden work and weaving, has been identified as a potential source of income for women in the area.

Review of Literature

Umashankar yadav ,Ravindra Tripathi ,Mano Ashish Tripathi,Ashish Kumar & Mitu Mandal (2023),Evaluation of factors affecting entrepreneurship : A case of Indian women in the handicraft industry,The research results pointed out This industry has the potential to give employment to local people.The local job seekers can earn a livelihood by working in craft organization.Sumiya Din,Saima Farhad & Humria Showket in2019 carried out a research on " Empowerment of women Artisans in Kashmir through Handicrafts : An Overview"empowering women has become one of the major issues of the 21 century,Indeed ,in today's business system women play a wonderful role in  its growth and development.Habibur Rahman 2021,conducted a study on empowering Women through Handicraft Industry : A Case Study of Rangpur,The research findings have shown that Education, especially training and skill development programs are important for handicraft workers.Government and NGO should come forward more in exporting and promoting handicrafts in foreign and local market respectively so that this sector can generate more women empowerment and thereby lead to higher women empowerment.

Research Objectives:

1.     To study handicraft Industry.

2.     To study the socio-economic conditions of the women involved in handicraft.

3.     To examine the empowerment of women through handicrafts.

Research Methodology: This study is based on primary data. Data was collected through a schedule. Information was collected from a total of 180 crafts women from Bastar, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Gariaband, and Raigarh Jashpur districts. Information was collected from 30-30 women from each district.

Data Analysis : To examine the empowerment of women through handicrafts, Construction of Empowerment index(WEAI (Alkire et al., 2012)

1.Input domain

I.Activity Domain –Credit Access

                             - Resource Utilisation

                                  -Repayment Decision

II Knowledge Domain – Financial Literacy

                                   -Educational Attainment

                                   - Knowledge about family planning

III.Output Domain

Domestic Autonomy – protest against domestic violence & alcoholism

                                    -Household anatomy

                                    -Anatomy in purchase and sale of household resources

Social Interraction – A membershipin local political party.

                                   -Voice against social crime

                                   -Freedom of mobility without permission

Thus based on the above method, IEI for each women  involed with the handicraft can be Assessed separately.Where IEI is  dependent on Input and Output Domain.

Women Empowerment Index

WEA _{craft = We+ Wn(Da)}

_Where

We= % of women with adequate empowerment

Wn=% of women without  adequate empowerment

Da==% of Domain in which disempowered women have adequate empowerment

Hypothesis:

: Handicraft industry has not  any significant impact on women's empowerment.

Research Gap

Past research works were mostly based on handicrafts  in baster.The research has been done on art and craft but ignore the women's artist's income and impact on women's empowerment.As a result,we examine how the revenue generated by women artists to providing economic empowerment.

Limitations of the Study

Due to time and budget constraints for the study, information was collected from only 180 craftswomen families from six districts of Chhattisgarh,.

Study of Socio-Economic status of Craftswomen's:

Table 1: Educational Status of Craftswomen

Source- Based on personal survey

Table 2 clearly shows that 76.11% of craftswomen are literate and 23.89% of craftswomen are illiterate.

Table : 2 Family Structure of Craftswomen

Source- Based on personal survey

Table 3 clearly shows that 86.67% of sample Craftswomen belong to the nuclear family, and 13.33% of sample Craftwosmen belong to the Joint family.

Table: 3 Family Size of Craftswomen

Source- Based on personal survey

It is clear from Table 3 that 58.33 percent of the families of sample craftswomen have a family size of 2 to 4 members, and the lowest percentage, 8.33 percent, belongs to families with only two members.

Table : 4 Marital Status of Craftswomen

Source- Based on personal survey

It is clear from Table 4 that 62.22% of the craftsmen are married, while 37.78% of the craftsmen are unmarried.

Women’s Empowerment and Economic Contributions:

I11 = 1, if the woman gets direct credit access;

= 0, otherwise;

I12 = 1, if the woman takes the decision about business resource utilization;

= 0, otherwise;

I13 = 1, if the woman takes repayment decision in the micro credit business;

= 0, otherwise;

I21 = 1, if the woman has financial literacy;

= 0, otherwise;

I22 = 1, if the woman completes her elementary education;

= 0, otherwise;

I23 = 1, if the woman has knowledge about family planning;

= 0, otherwise;

I31 = 1, if her BMI>18.5; =0 otherwise

I32 = 1, if she is anaemia free, i.e., her Hb>11.0 mg/dL;

= 0, otherwise;

I33 = 1, if she has sanitation and safe drinking water facility;

= 0, otherwise;

O11 = 1, if she protests against domestic violence/ alcoholism within household;

= 0, otherwise;

O12 = 1, if she takes household decision about resource, health and education;

= 0, otherwise;

O13 = 1, if she takes purchase or sales decision about domestic resources;

= 0, otherwise;

O21 = 1, if she is member in local political parties/NGO;

= 0, otherwise;

O22 = 1, if she raises voice against social crimes (dowry, women abuse etc);

= 0, otherwise;

O23 = 1, if she enjoys the freedom to move safely within society without permission;

= 0, otherwise;

Step 1: Thus based on the above method, IEI for each woman involved with the Craft work can be assessed separately. The individual empowerment score above 0.8 would be considered as adequate empowerment. Thus a woman with a score of 0.8 and above will have access to resources, will have a say in family affairs and has in a position to take decisions.

Step 2: After computing individual score, ‘group empowerment’ needs to be calculated. In computing so, following the method of construction of WEAI (Alkire et al., 2012) we propose the following equation: WEI_craft = We+ Wn(Da)

Women Empowerment Index

Before Joining Handicraft Industry

WEI_craft = We+ Wn(Da)

              = 45.8/100+54.2/100(32.4/100)

                            = .458+.542(.324)

                            =  .458   + .176

                            = .634  ,63.4%

Before Joining Handicraft Industry Women Empowerment Index is 63.4 %

After  Joining Handicraft Industry

WEI_craft = We+ Wn(Da)

              = 49.1/100+50.9/100(39.7/100)

                           = .491+.509(.397)

                              = .491+(.202)

                              = .491+.202

                               =.693,69.3%

After  Joining Handicraft Industry Women Empowerment Index is 69.3%, 5.9 % more handicraft women's empowered after joining Handicraft Industry.

Findings

The study found that the handicraft industry has had a positive impact on women's empowerment in Rangpur. The industry has provided women with:

1.     Economic empowerment: Women involved in the handicraft industry have reported an increase in their income, which has enabled them to contribute to their family's financial well-being and make decisions about their own lives.

2.     Social recognition: Women's involvement in the handicraft industry has earned them respect and recognition within their communities, which has helped to challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes.

3.     Skills development: Women have acquired new skills and knowledge through training and capacity-building programs, which has enhanced their confidence and self-esteem.

4.     Networking opportunities: Women have formed networks and associations, which have provided them with a platform to share their experiences, exchange ideas, and access new markets and resources.

5.     Education : Those who have education above class VIII have better score compared to those who have education less than class VIII.

Challenges

Despite the positive impact of the handicraft industry on women's empowerment, the study identified several challenges that need to be addressed, including:

1.     Limited access to markets: Women face difficulties in accessing markets and selling their products, which limits their earning potential.

2.     Lack of training and capacity-building: Women need more training and capacity-building programs to enhance their skills and knowledge.

3.     Limited access to credit: Women face difficulties in accessing credit and financial services, which limits their ability to invest in their businesses.

4.     Social and cultural barriers: Women face social and cultural barriers, including patriarchal attitudes and stereotypes, which limit their participation in the industry.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the handicraft industry has the potential to empower women in Chhattisgarh by providing them with economic opportunities, social recognition, skills development, and networking opportunities. However, addressing the challenges faced by women in the industry is crucial to ensuring their full participation and empowerment. Education,especially training and supply managerial inputs.The study recommends that policymakers, NGOs, and industry stakeholders work together to address these challenges and create an enabling environment for women's empowerment through the handicraft industry. The article concludes that handicrafts have the potential to empower women artisans in Chhattisgarh, promoting their economic, social, and cultural well-being. However, addressing the challenges faced by women artisans and providing support through capacity building, market access, social support, and policy support is crucial to realizing this potential so that this sector can generate more women employment and lead to higher women empowerment.

Gratitude: Based on a major research project funded by ICSSR

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