Article Title |
Consumption Expenditure Inequality and Handloom Sector in Northeast India |
Author(s) | Souvik Mukherjee. |
Country | India |
Abstract |
Handloom is the most widely established cottage industry in North East India (NE) and is widely spread throughout the region. It employs a large skilled and unskilled workforce, mainly women workers in the North East. In the present era of commercialization, the handloom sector is also witnessing changes, and many women are adopting weaving as their profession. The activity they performed during their leisure time, has now been transformed into an 8-hour job. Across India, including the North East, there has been a general trend of increasing inequality in consumption expenditure, particularly after economic reforms. This is evident in rural and urban areas, with non-food expenditures being more unevenly distributed and contributing significantly to overall inequality (Sen & Das, 2018; Subramanian & Jayaraj, 2015). The handloom sector is a crucial source of employment in Northeast India, with the region accounting for more than 65% of the total handloom households in the country. It provides livelihoods to many rural populations, especially women, who dominate the weaving occupation in this region (Devi, 2014; Goswami et al., 2017). Despite the decline in handloom weaver households in other parts of India, Northeast India has increased, highlighting its importance in the local economy (Devi, 2014). This paper attempts to probe the impacts of different dimensions of the handlooms sector of the North Eastern states on consumption expenditure inequality along with their magnitudes. The Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019-20 found that 31.45 lakh households in India are engaged in handloom activities, an increase from 27.83 lakhs in the previous census. Rural and urban areas categorize the data and factors like religion and household types. The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) measures spending and reports inequality through the Gini coefficient. This paper examines how different Handloom census indicators affect the Gini coefficient. The analysis draws on data from the Fourth All India Handloom Census 2019-20 and the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23. The HCES obtained the Gini coefficient to measure inequality in consumption expenditure. Information on the handloom industry in northeast India was also sourced from the Ministry of Textiles' Census report. Multiple linear regression models were developed to achieve the paper's objectives, predicting the value of a variable based on several others. The Northeast region is emerging as a key player in the handloom sector, but women weavers face challenges from manual looms and market competition, including threats from imported materials. Designers should focus on handloom products to support this craft. In a patrilineal society, weaving empowers women, yet weak organizations hinder their rights. Mobilizing weaver groups can improve access to government schemes and markets. Sustainable cooperatives and full-time work in handlooms can enhance women's economic participation and livelihoods. |
Area | Statistics |
Published In | Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2025 |
Published On | 23-06-2025 |
Cite This | Mukherjee, S. (2025). Consumption Expenditure Inequality and Handloom Sector in Northeast India. International Journal of Science and Technology (IJST), 2(2), pp. 56-75. |