Revival of Khadi Industry in Assam: Adversities and Challenges - A Study

Abstract

Gandhiji in his article published in the Young India, entitled Lovely Assam said, “Every woman of Assam is a born weaver. No Assamese girl who does not weave can expect to become a wife. And she weaves fairy tales in cloth. Some of the old patterns were of matchless beauty. And as I saw these beautiful patterns, I could not help shedding a silent tear over India's past glory and her lost work”.

        Although Assam is our Universe of Study, Khadi is made all over India and beyond like Bangladesh and Pakistan, which signifies a common thread of unity in these countries. 

        In the post independent era, Government intervened to develop Khadi. But in course of seven decades this household industry in Assam has gone through many ups and downs. Yet, it sustained itself because of its inherent strength. Khadi is an activity with women monopoly.  Although every house of Assam has weavers there are only 7415 registered Khadi artisans who are working with NGOs, called Khadi Institutions that receive Government of India supports.        

       The industry has been finding it hard to absorb the jerk of Direct Benefit Transfer regime. The Paper makes an attempt to analyse the situation mostly based on primary data sources. It appears the production vis-à-vis wages that artisans earn are poor which do not help much to their social mobility still these women for decades working on old primitive looms and tools. 

        Yet Khadi, the hand-spun and hand-woven natural fabric, can outlive commercially with supportive polices.