INDIGENOUS IDENTITY - ROLE OF SAMBALPURI HANDLOOM WEAVERS.

Abstract

Sambalpuri handloom is a traditional weaving craft practiced from generation to generation by artisans to attractive textile designs. It is the second largest employment provider for rural and urban India. This study investigates the socioeconomic condition of Sambalpuri handloom weavers in western Odisha.

For the motive of the present study, the descriptive research design was adopted to conduct the research process. This study was taken forward by a random sampling method for the selection of the respondents. A household was selected and from there further study was carried out. The research was carried out in two districts namely Nuapada and Balangir for the purpose of this study and from each district one tehsil was taken. The sample size for the study has five households in each district. In Nuapada district bhuliasikhwa tehsil was taken and from  Balangir district bhalumuda tehsil was taken. 

More so, western districts of Odisha are having significantly more handloom weavers. The majority of weavers are struggling hard to survive. There is a  huge gap in income and expenditure, and the handloom weavers' socio-economic conditions are despicable. Earlier these sambalpuri handlooms were in glorious production in these western Odisha districts but now with changing times their production has reduced because of the worsening condition of the weavers. Some of the conditions that the weavers are suffering from are competition from the mill and power loom sectors and inconsistency of government policies.