Journal of Education & Social Policy

Female Work Participation in Handloom Industry-A Case Study of Mubarakpur Town, Azamgarh District, U.P
Tasneem Shazli, Prof. Abdul Munir

Abstract
Manufacturing industries help to reduce poverty and unemployment in a variety of ways. The economy of a country is observed as a reflection of industrial development and work force participation. In the past, females were not treated as an integral part of the labor force; they entered the labor market after the introduction of machines. They were largely employed in those manufacturing industries which required less and semi-skilled female workers. During medieval period skilled Muslim weavers came to India along with Moguls and found Varanasi and its surrounding area’s local climate conducive to handloom production. As a result, the study area in eastern Uttar Pradesh became an important site of weaving industry. The objective of this paper is to assess the female work participation in handloom industry of Mubarakpur town. The study is based on the socio-economic conditions, derived from primary data collected through questionnaire. Results show that weaving is the major occupation of Mubarakpur town, as there is high concentration of handlooms. The major reasons which forced females to do work in handlooms are economic necessity, unemployment, poverty, low income, low literacy and education and large family size. A gradual decline of the handicraft industry in Mubarakpur town in the last few decades due to economic and political reasons has caused a setback in the condition of female weavers. Thus, the government should address the issues relating to the female work participation and chalk out an action plan for the upliftment of poor female weavers.

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