INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIV, Issue X, October 2025
Empowering Women Artisans in Assam: Craft Heritage,
Community Development, and Tourism Strategies
Manish Singh Dhakad a, Shikha Dhakad b
Assistant Professor, National Institute of Fashion Technology a
Research Scholar, Jiwaji University b
Abstract: This study examines the role of training programmes, handloom expos, and tourism in empowering women artisans in
Assam. Using secondary data from 2011 to 2023, correlation and trend analyses are employed to evaluate the impact of policy,
employment outcomes, and market access. Results show little correlation between training and stable employment, but a strong
positive relationship (r=0.99) between exposure and sales revenue, emphasising their economic significance. Tourism demonstrated
limited influence on handloom demand. The findings underscore the need for integrated strategies that combine skill development,
market access, and tourism to support sustainable livelihoods for women weavers and preserve indigenous textile traditions.
Keywords: Women artisans, handloom industry, skill development, market access, cultural preservation, tourism, Assam, economic
empowerment
I. Introduction:
The handloom industry is a key part of Assam’s culture, history, and heritage, and it plays an important role in the state's economy,
accounting for the second-highest income after agriculture. Women weavers are the backbone ofAssam’s loom industry, with 91.9%
of the weaver population being women (census of 2019-20 data), highlighting the significant economic role of women weavers in
Assam. The Bodo tribes ofAssam are among the leading weavers; they have inherited their traditional weaving from their ancestors.
This community has a larger number of women weavers who influence its social, economic, and cultural fabric. These Bodo women
diligently follow and pass down traditional weaving techniques for producing Dokhona, Iwmgra, Gamsa, Aroma, and Endi silk.
The Bodo and Assam weaver communities share traditional weaving as a vital part of their cultural identity (Basumatary &
Khawzawl, 2024).
The North-East region, including Assam, has the highest number of feminist expressions of empowerment in the traditional loom
industry, with 88% of women weavers participating across different ages, enabling them to be influential in both social and
economic spheres and enhancing their socio-economic status (Devi, 2013).
Furthermore, centrally sponsored schemes and state plans from 2011 to 2023 have played a vital role in empowering women artisans
by providing financial support through initiatives like Weavers Credit Card and MUDRA loans; offering programmes to enhance
economic opportunities such as Self-Employment Schemes and Handloom Model Villages; promoting skill development through
training and institutions like Handloom Training Centres and Handloom Training Institutes; and delivering health and social security
via Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana. These schemes also indirectly support tourism by increasing financial aid, economic
prospects, upskilling, and market visibility.
Assam’s handloom exhibitions, expos, and local market highlights generate very high Return on Investment (ROI). Similarly, in
2021-22, both national and international handloom expos achieved exceptionally high ROI figures, specifically 283.43% and
264.43%. The ROI for all 2021-22 expos (including the Special Handloom Expo, District Level Expo, and others) was 3.85,
meaning that every 1Rs invested yielded 3.85Rs. In the 2022-23 expo, each 1 rs invested returned 2.99 rs. Consequently, the sales
and income of women weavers increase when they are given a platform to showcase their handloom skills, further boosting their
independence.
Tourism plays a vital role in empowering and expanding the work of women artisans by boosting consumer demand for timeless
traditional handloom products. The positive link between tourism and art highlights the potential for promoting campaigns, festivals,
and fairs to increase the international profile of Assamese women artisans.
Despite knowing that various upskilling programmes, schemes, and marketing expos in Assam do not generate economic
opportunities for weavers due to a decline in Handloom expos and limited income growth even after skill acquisition.
Every year, upskilling programmes such as the national handloom development programme, handloom training centres, and the
handloom institute have increased the number of skilled artisans but have not secured full-time employment. According to data
from the Statistical Handbook of Assam, there has been a sharp decline from 2.19 lakh weavers in 2019 to 1.08 lakh in 2023, despite
ongoing training for an average of 1,400 trainees each year. However, part-time weavers remain predominant, possibly due to a
lack of full-time employment even after training.
Furthermore, the decrease in the number of handloom expos from 19 in 2019 to just 4 in 2023 has led to lower sales revenue,
reduced direct market access, financial instability, and limited market reach. According to Handloom Census Data (2019-20), the
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