Handloom and Weaving in Karbi Anglong Distric...

Handloom and Weaving in Karbi Anglong District its Problems and Prospects a Study on Karbi Women Weaver

Author Name : Mrs. Joya Timungpi

ABSTRACT

Handloom weaving activities   has  been  a rich heritage  since  time immemorial in the karbi community. Karbi tribe ,the major tribal ethnic group of  the Karbi Anglong    and West Karbi Anglong in the  District of Assam .The handloom sector  plays a significant  role in  providing direct and indirect employment avenue to the karbi community  which is next to agricultural sector. It is a sector that directly reflect women’s empowerment with over 90% of all  karbi  weavers  being female. The products that are produced by the karbi weaver are Pini, pekok, Vamkok, choi-hongthor, piba, jarong, sator, poho etc. The demand  for traditional attires  is still very high as it is being preferred and worn  by the Old and the young alike so the karbi women weavers continue to produce the traditional  cloths, keeping alive the age old tradition  of colours and designs of ancient times and simultaneously  modernizing them with change of time. Weaving directly strengthen the economics of our country by generating employment  and indirectly eradicated Poverty. Karbi women in the rural area are now practicing agriculture in tandem with  weaving to have a better life and to generate  income. Karbi women weaving skill are known from distinct design for the different fabrics, colour and design for using in different occasions. Many karbi weavers today are highly trained to be compatible with the ongoing trend with great enthusiasm as per the demand in the market However,  the handloom and weaving sector are still striving for  improving its sector   . This paper  attempts to study  the problems and challenges  faced by the karbi women  weavers  and suggestions  in order to  strengthen weaving sector in the hill district of assam and to generate  constant employment opportunities .

Key words: Handloom- weaver, karbi –community, employment-opportunity, women empowerment etc.