Status and distribution of forest-based artisans in Assam, India

Abstract

 In northeast India, making of cane and bamboo products has been practiced for centuries and is perhaps the most widely used of all the crafts practiced by a large number of artisans scattered throughout 
the region. The study was carried out in Assam covering 76 villages in 29 Community Development Blocks falling under 11 districts of the states. The estimated mean number of artisan households per village in the state was 12.33 with a standard deviation of 5.82. The forest based artisan activity was quite intense in the central, western and southern parts of the state. The most active group in terms of the type of products made was the Group-IV  including  the eastern districts of Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sibsagar and Tinsukia. The concentration of artisan households per village was more in the western and southern part of the Assam.  Most artisans in the western and south western districts (Group-I ) and the southern  districts (Group-VI ) were bamboo based while artisans in remaining Groups-II, III, IV and V were involved in cane based activities. Contribution of artisan activities in rural employment is greater than the employment generated by medium or large wood based industry. Artisan activities need to be encouraged for enhancing the livelihoods of rural poor through skill development.