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Resea ch Pape
F om C a o Con idence: Women’s Economic Empowe men
h ough Bamboo Jewelle y Making in Ba pe a Dis ic , Assam
D . Ri a Ma ak*
Assis an P o esso , Depa men o Comme ce, Nowgong College (Au onomous), Nagaon, Assam, India
Co esponding Au ho : * D . Ri a Ma ak DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.5281/zenodo.17722806
Abs ac
Manusc ip In o ma ion
The p esen s udy explo es he ole o bamboo jewelle y making in os e ing women’s
economic and social empowe men in Ba pe a Dis ic , Assam. Roo ed in he adi ional
bamboo c a cul u e o he egion, his en e p ise has inc easingly eme ged as a sus ainable
li elihood op ion o u al women. The s udy aimed o examine he ela ionship be ween
women’s engagemen in bamboo jewelle y making and hei empowe men s a us. P ima y
da a we e collec ed om 150 women a isans ac oss selec ed illages o Ba pe a using a
s uc u ed ques ionnai e. A desc ip i e and analy ical esea ch design was adop ed,
inco po a ing s a is ical ools such as he chi-squa e es and - es o es he s a ed
hypo hesis.
The indings e ealed subs an ial imp o emen s in women’s income, decision-making
powe , mobili y, and social pa icipa ion a e joining bamboo jewelle y p oduc ion. The
a e age mon hly income o esponden s ose om ₹1,800 o ₹5,400, while pa icipa ion in
household decision-making inc eased om 45% o 82%. The Empowe men Index
indica ed ha 56.7% o esponden s achie ed a high le el o empowe men . S a is ical
analysis con i med a signi ican ela ionship be ween du a ion o in ol emen and
empowe men le els (χ² = 18.42, p < 0.05), leading o he ejec ion o he null hypo hesis.
The s udy concludes ha bamboo jewelle y making no only enhances women’s inancial
independence bu also s eng hens hei sel -con idence and social isibili y. I ecommends
a ge ed aining, c edi access, and ma ke linkages o p omo e he c a as a iable model
o gende -inclusi e u al de elopmen in Assam.
▪ ISSN No: 2583-7397
▪ Recei ed: 11-03-2024
▪ Accep ed: 28-04-2024
▪ Published: 30-04-2024
▪ IJCRM:3(2); 2024:235-241
▪ ©2024, All Righ s Rese ed
▪ Plagia ism Checked: Yes
▪ Pee Re iew P ocess: Yes
How o Ci e his Manusc ip
Ma ak R, F om C a o Con idence:
Women’s Economic Empowe men
h ough Bamboo Jewelle y Making in
Ba pe a Dis ic , Assam. In J Con emp
Res Mul idiscip 2024; 3(2): 235-241.
KEYWORDS: Bamboo jewelle y, Women empowe men , Handic a s, Ru al li elihood, Economic de elopmen
In . J . o Con emp. Res. in Mul i. Volume 3 Issue 2 [Ma - Ap ] 2024
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1. INTRODUCTION
The use o bamboo as a sus ainable aw ma e ial has been deeply
oo ed in Assam’s cul u al and economic landscape. Among i s
many uses, bamboo-based handic a s—pa icula ly jewelle y—
ha e eme ged as a sou ce o li elihood and c ea i e exp ession
o u al a isans. (Singh & Phukan, 2017) [15] In ecen yea s, he
c a o bamboo jewelle y making has gained a en ion o i s
eco- iendly appeal and po en ial o women’s en ep eneu ship.
Ba pe a Dis ic o Assam, known o i s skilled a isans and
adi ional c a communi ies, has wi nessed a g adual ise in
women engaging in bamboo jewelle y p oduc ion, o en as pa
o sel -help g oups (SHGs) o mic o-en e p ises. (UNDP, 2021)
[16]
Women’s pa icipa ion in such li elihood ac i i ies con ibu es
no only o household income bu also o b oade dimensions o
empowe men , such as decision-making abili y, social mobili y,
and sel -es eem. P io s udies (Ba uah, 2020; Das & Deka, 2021)
[2][6] indica e ha handic a -based en e p ises can p omo e
economic independence among women, ye challenges such as
limi ed ma ke access, lack o design inno a ion, and insu icien
ins i u ional suppo pe sis . The bamboo jewelle y sec o in
Ba pe a o e s an impo an case o examining how adi ional
skills can ans o m in o pa hways o empowe men in u al
Assam.
This s udy seeks o assess he economic and social empowe men
o women a isans engaged in bamboo jewelle y making, analyse
he cons ain s hey ace, and explo e s a egies o he
sus ainable de elopmen o his c a -based indus y. By doing
so, i aims o p o ide empi ical insigh s ha could in o m bo h
local en ep eneu ship p og ams and gende -inclusi e
de elopmen ini ia i es in he egion.
RATIONALE OF THE STUDY
Bamboo, an abundan and enewable esou ce in Assam, plays a
i al ole in u al li elihoods and adi ional c a smanship. In
ecen yea s, bamboo jewelle y making has eme ged as a niche
en e p ise ha combines cul u al he i age wi h sus ainable
income gene a ion. In Ba pe a Dis ic , a g owing numbe o
women a isans ha e adop ed his c a as a means o li elihood
di e si ica ion and sel - eliance. Howe e , hei po en ial o
economic empowe men is o en cons ained by limi ed access
o ma ke s, inadequa e ins i u ional suppo , low le els o skill
de elopmen , and minimal inancial e u ns.
The p esen s udy, “F om C a o Con idence: Women’s
Economic Empowe men h ough Bamboo Jewelle y Making in
Ba pe a Dis ic , Assam,” seeks o examine how engagemen in
bamboo jewelle y p oduc ion con ibu es o women’s economic
and social empowe men . I also aims o iden i y he socio-
economic and ins i u ional ac o s ha in luence hei
pa icipa ion and success in he sec o .
This s udy is signi ican as i b idges he gap be ween adi ional
c a p ac ices and women’s en ep eneu ship in Assam. By
highligh ing he empowe men ou comes and challenges aced
by women a isans, he esea ch will p o ide insigh s o
policymake s and de elopmen agencies o s eng hen bamboo-
based en e p ises and p omo e inclusi e, gende -sensi i e u al
de elopmen .
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
1. To s udy he socio-economic p o ile o women engaged in
bamboo jewelle y making in Ba pe a Dis ic .
2. To examine he ex en o economic and social
empowe men achie ed h ough hei pa icipa ion in
bamboo jewelle y en e p ises.
3. To iden i y he challenges and cons ain s aced by women
a isans in p oduc ion, ma ke ing, and inancial access.
HYPOTHESIS
H₀: The e is no signi ican ela ionship be ween women’s
pa icipa ion in bamboo jewelle y making and hei le el o
economic and social empowe men .
3. RELATED LITERATURE
Ahmed (2018) [1] explo ed he ma ke ing cons ain s aced by
bamboo c a p oduce s in Lowe Assam. Th ough s uc u ed
in e iews, he s udy e ealed ha poo in as uc u e, absence
o o ganised ma ke s, and dependency on middlemen educed
a isans’ p o i ma gins. Women a isans we e pa icula ly
disad an aged due o mobili y cons ain s. The s udy implies ha
de eloping coope a i e ma ke ing ne wo ks and digi al
p omo ion channels can imp o e women’s ea nings om
bamboo jewelle y.
Bo ah and Kali a (2019) [3] in es iga ed he li elihood
con ibu ion o bamboo and cane c a s o u al women in
Assam. Using a desc ip i e design, hey ound ha women
a isans ea ned a s eady income om bamboo-based c a s,
which signi ican ly suppo ed household expendi u e and sel -
eliance. Howe e , hey aced ma ke ins abili y and compe i ion
om machine-made subs i u es. The implica ion is ha
s eng hening local alue chains and p oduc di e si ica ion can
p omo e women’s sus ainable empowe men .
Ba man (2019) [4] examined he ole o adi ional bamboo
c a s in p omo ing women’s en ep eneu ship in Assam. The
s udy emphasised ha while bamboo wo k p o ided a i al
sou ce o li elihood, he lack o inno a ion and exposu e o
con empo a y jewelle y design limi ed business scalabili y.
Ba man concluded ha skill di e si ica ion and design aining
a e c ucial o con e ing bamboo a isans in o success ul
en ep eneu s.
Chak abo y (2020) [5] analysed women’s pa icipa ion in
handic a s in No heas India, ocusing on empowe men
ou comes. The s udy indica ed ha in ol emen in c a s
inc eased women’s con idence, decision-making powe , and
inancial independence. Ne e heless, gende dispa i ies in
access o aining and ma ke ing pe sis ed. The indings sugges
ha bamboo jewelle y-making ini ia i es should include
women-led coope a i es and capaci y-building p og ams o
enhance empowe men .
Das and Deka (2021) [6] conduc ed an empi ical s udy on he
socio-economic p o ile o bamboo a isans in Ba pe a Dis ic .
The esea ch highligh ed ha mos a isans belonged o
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economically weake sec ions and ha women o med a
subs an ial po ion o he wo k o ce. Despi e hei skills, women
a isans lacked o mal ecogni ion and exposu e o wide
ma ke s. The implica ions poin owa d he need o policy
suppo , b anding, and aining o o malise women’s
con ibu ions in bamboo jewelle y making.
Kha ania (2017) [12] conduc ed a de ailed analysis o cane and
bamboo-based indus ial clus e s in Assam, ocusing on
p o i abili y and ulne abili y. The s udy e ealed ha a isans,
especially women, we e p edominan ly engaged in household-
based in o mal en e p ises wi h limi ed capi al, low p o i
ma gins, and minimal ins i u ional suppo . I highligh ed ha
inadequa e ma ke ing and c edi access hinde ed women’s
abili y o scale p oduc ion. The indings imply ha empowe ing
women in bamboo c a s equi es a ge ed inancial and
ma ke ing in e en ions.
Kali a and Saikia (2022) [12] s udied he impac o sel -help
g oups (SHGs) on he empowe men o bamboo c a swomen in
Assam. The esea ch showed ha women associa ed wi h SHGs
expe ienced enhanced income secu i y, leade ship oles, and
social ecogni ion. T aining p og ams on bamboo jewelle y
design imp o ed bo h p oduc quali y and con idence le els. The
implica ion is ha collec i e o ganisa ion h ough SHGs is a key
d i e o women’s empowe men in he bamboo c a sec o .
In e na ional Finance Co po a ion (2021) [10] assessed he
oppo uni ies and cons ain s aced by women-owned small
en e p ises in India’s handic a sec o . The s udy ound ha
limi ed access o o mal c edi , lack o digi al li e acy, and
inadequa e policy suppo es ic ed g ow h po en ial. Fo
bamboo jewelle y a isans in Assam, he indings sugges ha
inclusi e inancial p oduc s, digi al aining, and ma ke -linkage
p og ams could signi ican ly enhance empowe men ou comes.
The e iewed li e a u e e eals ha bamboo-based en e p ises
con ibu e signi ican ly o u al li elihoods and women’s
empowe men , ye mos s udies emphasise p oduc ion and
ma ke ing o e he empowe men dimension. Limi ed esea ch
exis s on women a isans in Assam, pa icula ly in bamboo
jewelle y making. Hence, he p esen s udy add esses his gap by
examining how bamboo jewelle y making in Ba pe a Dis ic
os e s women’s economic independence, con idence, and social
empowe men wi hin he b oade amewo k o sus ainable
li elihood de elopmen .
4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
4.1. Resea ch Design
The p esen s udy adop s a desc ip i e and analy ical esea ch
design. The desc ip i e componen aims o documen he
demog aphic, socioeconomic, and occupa ional cha ac e is ics
o women engaged in bamboo jewelle y making. The analy ical
componen seeks o examine he ela ionship be ween women’s
pa icipa ion in bamboo jewelle y en e p ises and a ious
dimensions o economic empowe men , such as income
gene a ion, decision-making, and sel -con idence. This
combina ion is app op ia e o cap u ing bo h he ac ual and
in e p e a i e aspec s o empowe men .
4.2. S udy A ea
The s udy is conduc ed in Ba pe a Dis ic , loca ed in lowe
Assam, India. Ba pe a is known o i s h i ing bamboo and cane
c a clus e s. Speci ically, he esea ch ocuses on i e illages
unde he Chakchaka De elopmen Block—Raipu , Bhaluki,
Dhupgu i, Joshiha igaon, and Joshiha icha —whe e bamboo-
and cane-based c a ac i i ies a e ac i ely p ac ised unde he
clus e p og amme suppo ed by he Khadi and Village
Indus ies Commission (KVIC). Women in hese illages a e
inc easingly engaged in bamboo jewelle y making, o en
ope a ing om hei households o wi hin sel -help g oups.
4.3. Uni e se and Sampling
The uni e se o he s udy includes all women a isans engaged
in bamboo jewelle y making wi hin he selec ed illages o
Ba pe a Dis ic . A disp opo iona e s a i ied sampling
echnique is used o selec esponden s who a e di ec ly in ol ed
in he c a . A o al o 150 women a isans a e chosen om he
i e illages, ensu ing ep esen a ion om each locali y.
Table 1: Sample selec ed
Village
Sample Selec ed
Raipu
40
Bhaluki
30
Dhupgu i
35
Joshiha igaon
25
Joshiha icha
20
To al
150
Sou ce: Field su ey (2022).
4.4. Da a Collec ion Me hods
Bo h p ima y and seconda y da a a e u ilised o he s udy.
• P ima y Da a: Collec ed h ough a s uc u ed
ques ionnai e, pe sonal in e iews, and ocus g oup
discussions (FGDs) wi h women a isans. The ques ionnai e
includes sec ions on demog aphic in o ma ion, income,
wo k pa e ns, household decision-making, mobili y, access
o aining, and pe cei ed empowe men .
• Seconda y Da a: Ob ained om go e nmen epo s,
Dis ic Indus ies and Comme ce Cen e (DICC)
publica ions, MSME clus e documen s, and ele an
esea ch s udies, jou nals, and o icial websi es.
4.5. Da a Collec ion on Empowe men Indica o s
Da a on social and economic empowe men we e ga he ed
h ough a s uc u ed ques ionnai e om women a isans engaged
in bamboo jewelle y en e p ises. Responden s ecalled hei
si ua ion be o e joining and desc ibed hei s a us a e
pa icipa ion, allowing a compa a i e “be o e–and–a e ”
analysis. Social indica o s included con idence, decision-
making, mobili y, and g oup membe ship, while economic
indica o s co e ed income, sa ings, c edi access, and
con ibu ion o household expenses. Responses we e exp essed
in pe cen ages o show he p opo ion o women epo ing
imp o emen ac oss each indica o .
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4.6. Tools and Techniques o Da a Analysis
Da a collec ed a e coded, abula ed, and analysed using bo h
quan i a i e and quali a i e echniques.
• Desc ip i e s a is ics (pe cen age, mean, s anda d
de ia ion) a e applied o desc ibe he socioeconomic p o ile
o esponden s.
• In e en ial s a is ics such as he Chi-squa e es and - es
a e employed o es he hypo heses and de e mine he
signi icance o ela ionships be ween pa icipa ion in
bamboo jewelle y making and empowe men indica o s.
• An Empowe men Index is cons uc ed using composi e
sco es on a iables such as income con ol, decision-
making, mobili y, and sel -con idence.
• Quali a i e esponses om FGDs a e hema ically analysed
o cap u e na a i es o change, challenges, and aspi a ions.
5. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
5.1. Socio-Demog aphic P o ile o Responden s
A o al o 150 women a isans om i e illages o Ba pe a
Dis ic pa icipa ed in he s udy. Among hem, a majo i y (74%)
we e ma ied, while 18% we e unma ied and 8% we e
widowed. Educa ional a ainmen was mode a e, wi h 58%
ha ing s udied up o he seconda y le el. The a e age household
size was i e membe s, indica ing mode a ely sized amily
s uc u es. Mos esponden s (64%) belonged o nuclea amilies,
e lec ing a shi om adi ional join amily sys ems owa d
smalle household uni s.
Some pic u es o bamboo Jewelle y
Sou ce: Field Su ey (2022)
5.2. Economic Empowe men
Table 2: Economic Indica o s
Indica o
Be o e joining c a
A e joining he c a
% Inc ease
A e age mon hly pe sonal income
₹1,800
₹5,400
+200%
Women ha ing pe sonal sa ings
38%
82%
+44%
Women wi h con ol o e hei own ea nings
41%
76%
+35%
Women con ibu ing o household expenses
52%
89%
+37%
Sou ce: Field Su ey (2022)
A compa ison o p e- and pos -engagemen economic indica o s
showed signi ican posi i e change. The a e age mon hly
pe sonal income o esponden s inc eased om ₹1,800 o
₹5,400, indica ing a h ee old ise. The p opo ion o women
ha ing pe sonal sa ings ose om 38% o 82%, and hose
exe cising con ol o e hei ea nings inc eased by 35%.
Fu he mo e, 89% o he esponden s now con ibu e o
household expendi u es compa ed o 52% be o e pa icipa ion.
These indings a i m ha bamboo jewelle y making has
enhanced women’s inancial independence and imp o ed hei
con ibu ion o household economic secu i y.
5.3 Social Empowe men
Table 3: Social Empowe men Indica o s
Indica o
Be o e pa icipa ion
A e pa icipa ion
% Inc ease
Con idence in in e ac ing wi h o icials/cus ome s
28%
78%
+50%
Pa icipa ion in household decision-making
45%
82%
+37%
F eedom o a el o ma ke / aining
34%
71%
+37%
Membe ship in SHG/coope a i e
39%
67%
+28%
Sou ce: Field Su ey (2022)
Engagemen in his c a has also con ibu ed o subs an ial social
ans o ma ion among women a isans. Be o e hei
pa icipa ion, only 28% o esponden s el con iden in e ac ing
wi h buye s o local o icials; his p opo ion ose o 78% a e
Pa icipa ion. Simila ly, pa icipa ion in household decision-
making inc eased om 45% o 82%, and eedom o a el o
aining o ma ke ing ose by 37%. The pe cen age o women
a ilia ed wi h sel -help g oups (SHGs) also g ew om 39% o
67%. These ends sugges ha he c a no only p o ides
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income bu also s eng hens women’s oice, agency, and
pa icipa ion in communi y ne wo ks.
5.4. Empowe men Index
An Empowe men Index was cons uc ed combining 10 key
a iables (income con ol, decision-making, mobili y, sa ings,
sel -con idence, e c.).
Table 4: Empowe men Index (Composi e Sco e)
Empowe men Ca ego y
No. o Responden s
Pe cen age
High Empowe men (sco e 4–5)
85
56.7%
Mode a e Empowe men (sco e 3)
52
34.7%
Low Empowe men (sco e 1–2)
13
8.6%
To al
150
100%
Sou ce: Field Su ey (2022)
Mo e han hal (56.7%) o he esponden s ell unde he “high
empowe men ” ca ego y, 34.7% unde “mode a e,” and only
8.6% unde “low.” The mean empowe men sco e (3.98, SD =
0.71) indica es ha mos women expe ienced subs an ial
imp o emen in bo h economic and social dimensions o
empowe men .
5.5. S a is ical Analysis and Hypo hesis Tes ing
(a) Chi-Squa e Tes — Associa ion be ween pa icipa ion
du a ion and empowe men le el
Table 5: Pa icipa ion du a ion and empowe men le el
Du a ion o In ol emen
High Empowe men
Mode a e
Low
To al
< 2 yea s
10
18
7
35
2–4 yea s
25
15
4
44
5–7 yea s
30
12
2
44
>7 yea s
20
7
0
27
To al
85
52
13
150
Sou ce: Field Su ey (2022)
The chi-squa e es was used o examine he associa ion be ween
he du a ion o in ol emen in bamboo jewelle y making and he
le el o empowe men . The calcula ed χ² alue (18.42, d = 6, p
< 0.05) exceeded he c i ical alue (12.59). Since 18.42 > 12.59,
he null hypo hesis is ejec ed, indica ing a signi ican
associa ion.
(b) -Tes — Compa ing empowe men sco es be ween SHG
membe s and non-membe s
Table 6: Empowe men sco es be ween SHG membe s and non-membe s
G oup
N
Mean Empowe men Sco e
SD
SHG membe s
90
4.12
0.64
Non-membe s
60
3.74
0.79
Sou ce: Field Su ey (2022)
Fu he mo e, a - es compa ing SHG membe s and non-
membe s showed ha SHG membe s had a highe mean
empowe men sco e (M = 4.12) han non-membe s (M = 3.74),
wi h he calcula ed - alue (3.25) exceeding he c i ical alue
(1.98). Since 3.25 > 1.98, he di e ence is signi ican . Women
associa ed wi h SHGs exhibi highe empowe men le els.
These esul s con i m ha pa icipa ion in bamboo jewelle y
making—and pa icula ly in g oup-based p oduc ion models—
has a s a is ically signi ican posi i e impac on women’s
empowe men .
Summa y o Findings
The analysis clea ly demons a es ha bamboo jewelle y making
has eme ged as an impo an li elihood op ion, os e ing
women’s economic and social ad ancemen in Ba pe a.
Inc eased income, g ea e con ol o e esou ces, enhanced
mobili y, and pa icipa ion in social ne wo ks collec i ely
signi y empowe men . The indings align wi h p e ious esea ch
(e.g., Ba uah, 2020; Das & Na h, 2022) ha highligh s he
ans o ma i e ole o c a -based mic oen e p ises in u al
Assam.
Consequen ly, he null hypo hesis (H₀)— ha he e is no
signi ican ela ionship be ween women’s engagemen in
bamboo jewelle y making and hei empowe men —is ejec ed.
The s udy unde sco es he po en ial o bamboo-based en e p ises
o p omo e gende -inclusi e u al de elopmen and ecommends
he expansion o aining, c edi , and ma ke -linkage suppo o
women a isans.
6. CONCLUSION
The s udy e ealed ha bamboo jewelle y making has become
an e ec i e ins umen o p omo ing bo h economic and social
empowe men among u al women in Ba pe a Dis ic , Assam.
Th ough hei pa icipa ion in his c a , women ha e
ansi ioned om unpaid household con ibu o s o independen
income ea ne s and decision-make s wi hin hei amilies and
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communi ies. The analysis o da a showed signi ican
imp o emen s in income le els, sa ings habi s, decision-making
abili y, and social mobili y.
S a is ical es s con i med ha he ela ionship be ween women’s
engagemen in bamboo jewelle y making and hei
empowe men is signi ican . The chi-squa e and - es esul s
demons a ed ha longe pa icipa ion and collec i e
in ol emen h ough sel -help g oups (SHGs) a e s ongly
associa ed wi h highe le els o empowe men . Beyond income,
he ac i i y has ins illed con idence, enhanced women’s social
ecogni ion, and s eng hened hei ba gaining powe wi hin he
household and communi y. The e o e, he c a ep esen s no
jus a li elihood bu also a pa hway owa d gende equali y and
sus ainable u al de elopmen .
7. RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Skill De elopmen and Design T aining: Regula hands-
on wo kshops and exposu e isi s should be o ganised o
help women a isans acqui e ad anced skills in bamboo
jewelle y design, inishing, and ma ke ing. Collabo a ion
wi h ins i u ions like he No h Eas e n Handic a s and
Handloom De elopmen Co po a ion (NEHHDC) and local
NGOs can ensu e quali y imp o emen and p oduc
di e si ica ion.
2. Ma ke Linkages and B anding: C ea ing di ec ma ke
linkages h ough e-comme ce pla o ms, ade ai s, and
exhibi ions can enhance isibili y and p o i abili y.
Es ablishing a collec i e b and iden i y—such as “Ba pe a
Bamboo C ea ions”—could u he s eng hen he local
iden i y o hese p oduc s.
3. Access o Finance and In as uc u e: Many women
a isans s ill ace challenges in accessing c edi o
pu chasing aw ma e ials o upg ading ools. Mic o inance
ins i u ions and SHGs should o e low-in e es loans and
sa ings schemes ailo ed o bamboo c a en ep eneu s.
Se ing up communi y-based p oduc ion uni s and common
acili y cen es will also imp o e e iciency and ou pu .
4. Ins i u ional and Policy Suppo : Go e nmen
depa men s should in eg a e bamboo jewelle y making in o
u al li elihood p og ams unde schemes like NRLM and
PMEGP. Fo mal ecogni ion h ough a isan egis a ion,
ce i ica ion, and inclusion in local de elopmen plans will
ensu e long- e m sus ainabili y.
5. P omo ion o Women’s Collec i es: Encou aging
women’s coope a i es and ede a ions can s eng hen
collec i e ba gaining, educe exploi a ion by in e media ies,
and os e leade ship among a isans. Such g oups can also
acili a e pee lea ning, capaci y building, and mu ual
suppo ne wo ks.
Acknowledgemen
The esea che exp esses since e g a i ude o he women a isans
o Ba pe a o hei aluable ime, insigh s, and coope a ion
du ing he s udy. Hea el hanks a e ex ended o he o icials o
he Assam S a e Bamboo Mission (ASBM), NABARD, and
ARTFED o p o iding ele an in o ma ion and suppo . The
esea che also acknowledges he guidance and encou agemen
o academic men o s and he assis ance o iends and colleagues
who con ibu ed o da a collec ion and analysis. Thei collec i e
suppo made his s udy possible.
Con lic o In e es
The au ho decla es no con lic o in e es . The s udy was
conduc ed solely o academic pu poses, and no inancial o
pe sonal ela ionships in luenced he esea ch design, da a
in e p e a ion, o p esen a ion o esul s.
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© 2024 D . Ri a Ma ak. This is an open-access a icle dis ibu ed unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion 4.0 In e na ional License (CC BY
NC ND). h ps://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/4.0/
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Abou he co esponding au ho
D . Ri a Ma ak is an Assis an P o esso in he Depa men o
Comme ce a Nowgong College (Au onomous), Nagaon, Assam.
He esea ch in e es s include u al en ep eneu ship, women
empowe men , and sus ainable de elopmen . She has published
ex ensi ely in epu ed jou nals and ac i ely con ibu es o
academic and communi y de elopmen ini ia i es.
