Involvement of Women in Handloom Segment: An Empirical Study With Reference To Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh

The handloom is a traditional craft work of India and it provides employment opportunities to lakhs of people in the rural and urban areas of our country. In the world women constitutes approximately 50% of the total population but society is still male dominated one. In India women contributed substantially to the economic growth of the country.The relationship between gender and the economy has considerable importance in Indian society. In general attitude of the people women are second grade citizens and they are makers of food, pickles, papads, masalas etc,. But their role is very important in every economic activity, either it is household work or cultivation or industry or service sector etc,. Like the other sectors the role of women weavers is very much important in handloom sector. Handloom sector is unique in India. The handloom weaving is household profession, followed by generations. In these households, women play an important role. Handloom sector is the only manufacturing sector in which women producing for women.


Introduction
Handloom sector in India is growing and has been undergoing many changes within its structure that affect its main features. Handloom weaving plays an important role in the growth process of the state as well as the country. This sector has been considered prominent because of the traditional artisan craft skills of the weavers which meet the local needs and demands.Irrespective of gender the Handloom sector has self sustaining mechanism.There is a sufficient flexibility for all types of communities to take up handloom production as a profession. In modern times the handloom sector has different strengths. It is simple, and is associated with appropriate technology. Women as a whole in the world wide suffer from secondary status .In India also they are in lower most hierarchy.The discrimination of women is related to her socio-economic status but differs from region to region ,in rural and urban areas. The Handloom Sector is one of the largest unorganized economic activities after agriculture and constitutes an integral part of the rural and semi rural livelihood. Handloom weaving constitutes one of the richest and most vibrant aspects of the Indian cultural heritage. The sector has an advantage of being less capital intensive, minimal use of power, eco-friendly, and flexibility of small production, openness to innovations and adaptability to market requirements. It is a natural productive asset and tradition at cottage level, which has sustained and grown by transfer of skill from one generation to other. Handloom weaving is largely decentralized and the weavers are mainly from the vulnerable and weaker sections of the society, who weave for their household needs and also contribute to the production in the textile sector. The weavers of this industry are keeping alive the traditional craft of different States. The level of artistry and intricacy achieved in the handloom fabrics is unparalleled and certain weaves/designs are still beyond the scope of modern machines. Handloom sector can meet every need ranging from the exquisite fabrics, which takes months to weave, to popular items of mass production for daily use. As per 3rd Handlooms Census, carried out in 2009-10, more than 43 lakh people are engaged in weaving and allied activities which were 65.5 lakh as per 2nd handloom census conducted during 1995-96. Out of the 38.47 lakh adult weavers and allied workers in the country, 77% are women and 23% male weavers, 10% of the weavers are from scheduled castes (SCs), 18% of the weavers are from scheduled tribes (STs), 45% are from other backward classes (OBCs) and 27% are from other castes.

Objectives of the study
The main purpose of the study is to examine the work participation of women handloom weavers in Krishna district. The objectives of the study are 1) To study the work participation of the women in handloom sector in Krishna district.
2) To study the socio-economic conditions of women handloom weavers in Krishna district.
3) To estimate the improvement in the socio-economic status of women handloom weavers by using government schemes. 4) To study the problems and prospects of handloom industry in Krishna district.

Period of the Study
The study mainly examines the work participation of women weavers in handloom sector in Krishna district from 2006 to 2016 i.e. 10 years period.

Collection of Data
The study is based on primary data and secondary data. We have collected primary data from 70 respondents by using a structured questionnaire and through personal interview method. The secondary data was collected from books, periodic journals, articles related to the present research.

Primary Data
The main source of the data is from the handloom weavers who are working under societies or independent weavers. For primary data collection 70 women weavers were selected. A structured questionnaire is used for the survey which contain simple, multiple choice questions. For primary data collection the observation method, personal interview method and group discussion method are used.

Secondary Data
Secondary data has been collected from published and unpublished reports by the government, departments and societies of the handloom sector and also from books, periodic journals and various websites related to present research study and handloom census of Ministry of Textiles ,Government of India.

Sampling Techniques
Simple random sampling was used in present research. Women handloom weavers is the sample and Krishna district is the population.

Area of the Study
This study was limited to women handloom weavers of seven mandals in Krishna district. The weavers spread throughout the district. Majority of weavers reside in Guduru, Pedana ,Ghantasala , Bandar ,Challapalli ,Movva and Gannavaram mandals. Sample Size .There are 58 primary handloom weavers co-operative societies existed in Krishna district with membership of 7,047 weaver artisans and 4,865 weavers are outside the co-operative fold. That is 11,912 handloom weavers in Krishna District. Among them 7,085 weavers are women weavers. A sample of 70 weavers are randomly selected from Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh.

Analysis and Interpretation of Data
The data is collected from 70 sample respondents. A structured questionnaire was given to the respondents to collect primary data. The data is analyzed by using the tables on the basis of age, sex, marital status, literacy, size of the family, working hours , income per month and health ground.  Source: primary data According to the above table majority of women weaver respondents (50.0%) belong to the age group between 20 and 40 years. Only 6 members are above the age of 60 years with 8.57%  According to the data 55 weaver respondents out of 70 belong to backward community with 78.57%, 11.43% are belong to other communities,10% respondents belong to scheduled caste and none of the respondents are belong to scheduled tribe. According to the study majority of the women respondents (81.43%) belong to Hindu religion, 10% respondents belong to Muslim and the rest belong to Christian religion.    According to the data 50% of the women weaver respondents have medium size of family which consists of 4 to 6 members. Very less (21.43%) number of respondents consisting up to 3 members which is very small family.     According to the data majority of the women weaver respondents (74.29%) are choosing the occupation by inheritance. Only 11.43% of the respondents prefer the occupation by their interest.      15. Majority of the respondents (42.86%) are suffering form backpain followed by 32.86% respondents suffering from eye sight /cataract. 18.57% of the respondents are suffering from joint pains and knee pains and only 5.71% of the respondents suffering from the problem of lungs.

Summary & Conclusion
The central and state government should take some steps at different levels. To overcome the problems of women weavers, easy credit and cheep credit should be provided to women weavers through the banks, other financial institutions and government. Handloom weaving plays an active role in the growth process of the state as well as the nation. This sector has been considered prominent because of the traditional artisan craft skills of the weavers which meet the local needs and demands. Handloom sector has different strengths in the modern economy. It is simple, and is associated with appropriate technology. The world, which is seeking for clean air and water, handlooms are well suited because they are eco-friendly in nature. Handloom sector has self sustaining mechanism, training for irrespective of gender. The inheritance of skills and capacities is beyond the realm and reach of any modern training and educational institution. There is a sufficient flexibility for all types of communities to take up handloom weaving as a profession.