INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 8, ISSUE 09, SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSN 2277-8616 Socio-Economic Problems Of Muga Silk Weavers Of Sualkuchi Silk Industry Nibedita Chowdhury, Mphil Scholar Abstract: India has a remarkable status in the Silk map of the world. After China, India is the largest producer of silk, producing about 18 percent of the total world production. It is also the second largest producer of Tassar silk after China. India produces four varieties of silk i.e. Mulberry, Eri, Tassar and Muga. Out of the four types of silks India has the monopoly of world production of golden yellow-Muga silk. Muga the golden yellow silk is the product of the silkworm Antheraea assamensis found only in the Bramhaputra Valley of Assam, a state in Northeast India. Muga silk is the culture of Assam which is as old as Assamese culture. Traditionally, Assam has been famous for its cottage industry specially spinning and weaving. The agro-based sericulture activities have been playing an important role in uplifting the rural economy of Assam. But it is very unfortunate that the new generation of the weavers‟ family were not interested to continue this culture. The weavers are also facing problems regarding wages, education, lack of modern skill, shortage of modern equipments, poor standard of living. Weavers take weaving as a part time job despite having possibilities in the industry. So a grass root level of the study about the socio-economic condition and the status of the weavers in the silk industry of Sualkuchi will help us to find out the problem faced by the weavers and the industry and also will be helpful to find out the solutions to those problems and would be possible to give proper respect and attention to the age old culture of Assam. Key-Words: Socio-economic, weavers, equipments ———————————————————— Introduction It is truly the God‟s gift and definitely the human creation Selection of the Study: which helps to turn leaves into silk which contribute to one Importance of Sericulture sector in the economic of the basic necessity of human being that is cloth. Not just development of the country is increasing. India is known for contributing to the basic necessity, silk also contributes a lot producing good quality silk. India is the only country in the to the economic development of a country. It could be the World producing the Muga silk. North Eastern states of the weapon to empower women as women played an important country are home to the Muga silk. Assam is the major role in the silk production. It could be the dominant source Muga silk producing states of the country. Sualkuchi is the of income for small and marginal farmers. In a labour centre where Muga silk production is practices from the abundant country like India, Silk could generate more time immemorial. Weaving is closely connected with the employment opportunities. Silk production circulated all culture and traditions of Assam. From ancient times over Europe and Asia during the World War I. Silk is a handloom was using in the production process and material first introduced in Neolithic China. India has a generation wise the people of Sualkuchi were getting the remarkable status in the Silk map of the world. After China, weaving skill. Weaving is in the blood of the people of India is the largest producer of silk, producing about 18 Sualkuchi. Modern technology, good infrastructure, percent of the total world production. It is also the second adequate investment is needed to increase the production largest producer of Tassar silk after China. India produces of the Muga silk. As Muga is available only in India four varieties of silk i.e. Mulberry, Eri, Tassar and Muga. therefore the country could make available the product of Out of the four types of silks India has the monopoly of Muga silk in the International market and can increase world production of golden yellow-Muga silk. Muga the import earning. Socio economic conditions of the weavers golden yellow silk is the product of the silkworm Antheraea should also be taken care of for the proper development of assamensis found only in the Bramhaputra Valley of the sector. As the weavers is the centre point of the sector. Assam, a state in Northeast India. The Antheraea The raw Muga silk production in Assam has increased from assamensis is cultivate especially in Bramhaputra Valley 117 MT in the year 2010-11 to 142 MT in the year 2015-16. because its characteristic ecological requirements are But the sector still could not get its proper market value. found only in its natural home. Muga silk is the culture of Somewhere the reason is the use of traditional technology Assam which is as old as Assamese culture. Traditionally, and design. Proper skill development training for the Assam has been famous for its cottage industry specially weavers is needed. Combination of modern technology and spinning and weaving. The agro-based sericulture activities design with the traditional knowledge of the weavers could have been playing an important role in uplifting the rural help the sector to reach a height. economy of Assam. The silk of Assam annexed a special place in the sericulture map of the world. Assam silk Significance of the Study: industry now centred in Sualkuchi, which is a labour- Since ancient times, Assam is well known for the production intensive industry. Muga silk industry of Assam is closely of good quality silk. Assam produces all the four types of related to the socio-economic and cultural life of the people silk and is the major producer of Muga silk. Silk industry of the state. During the days of Ahom regime (1228-1826), creates employment opportunities in all the stages e.g. reeling and weaving activities were popularised and cultivating, rearing, reeling and weaving. The contribution of became an indispensable profession of every Assamese the silk industry to the socio-economic life of the people of household. According to the tradition of Assam, the primary Assam is significant. From economic point of view also, silk qualification for young girl for marriage was the weaving industry is very important. The silk industry is also helpful in silk. This probably could be the reason why Assam has maintaining environmental degradation by increasing areas largest concentration of handlooms weavers in India. of green covers, as the industry is dependent on various plants. About 60 percent weavers in the Sualkuchi silk 595 IJSTR©2019 www.ijstr.org INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC & TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH VOLUME 8, ISSUE 09, SEPTEMBER 2019 ISSN 2277-8616 industry are women. The reputation of the product of The stages of hypothesis testing are mention below: Sualkuchi silk industry totally depends on the handwork, 1. Construct a hypothesis. skill and dedication of the weavers. But it is very 2. Select a level of significance. unfortunate that the new generation of the weavers‟ family 3. Compute the standard error. were not interested to continue this culture. The weavers 4. Compare the computed value to critical value are also facing problems regarding wages, education, lack (tabled value) and interpret the result. of modern skill, shortage of modern equipments, poor standard of living. Weavers take weaving as a part time job Depending on the available parameters, Chi-square test is despite having possibilities in the industry. So a grass root used in the study. level of the study about the socio-economic condition and the status of the weavers in the silk industry of Sualkuchi Formula to calculate Chi-square value is: will help us to find out the problem faced by the weavers χ2=∑ and the industry and also will be helpful to find out the solutions to those problems and would be possible to give Where, O refers to observed frequencies and E refers to proper respect and attention to the age old culture of expected frequencies. Assam. Following Steps are to be followed to determine Chi-square Value: Objectives of the Study: First, expected frequency is to be calculated. Formula to calculate expected frequency is: E= The following are the main objectives of the study: To study the status of silk industry of Assam. E=expected frequency To study the socio-economic problems faced by RT=the row total for the row containing the cell the weavers in the Silk Industry. CT=the column total for the column containing the To compare the status of the male and female cell weavers in the Silk Industry. N=the total number of observation To suggest some solution from the findings of the study. Second, difference between observed and expected frequencies are to be calculated and obtain the square of Hypothesis: these differences that is (O-E)2. Ken Black defines, “a hypothesis is a statement of what the Finally, divide the values of (O-E)2 obtained by their researcher believes will be the outcome of an experiment or respective expected frequency and obtained the value of χ2. a study.” Hypothesis of the study is socio-economic condition of male weavers is better than the female Null Hypothesis (H0): Socio-economic status of male weavers. To prove this hypothesis Chi-Square test is used weavers is not better than female weavers. on three important parameters of socio-economic study that Alternative Hypothesis (Ha): Socio-economic status of male is education, occupation and income. To experiment the weavers is better than female weavers. hypothesis a systematic procedure is needed. Result of Chi-square Analysis: Parameters DF Significance level Critical value Chi-square Value Result Education 6 5% level 12.6 13.01 Reject H0 Occupation 1 5% level 3.84 9.95 Reject H0 Income 3 5% level 7.81 8.03 Reject H0 Chi-square value is greater than critical value so we have Collection of data enough reason to reject the null hypothesis and accept Out of the four co-operatives in Sualkuchi, Assam Samabay alternative hypothesis.