Abstract:

The present study explores the role of bamboo jewellery making in fostering women’s economic and social empowerment in Barpeta District, Assam. Rooted in the traditional bamboo craft culture of the region, this enterprise has increasingly emerged as a sustainable livelihood option for rural women. The study aimed to examine the relationship between women’s engagement in bamboo jewellery making and their empowerment status. Primary data were collected from 150 women artisans across selected villages of Barpeta using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive and analytical research design was adopted, incorporating statistical tools such as the chi-square test and t-test to test the stated hypothesis.

The findings revealed substantial improvements in women’s income, decision-making power, mobility, and social participation after joining bamboo jewellery production. The average monthly income of respondents rose from ₹1,800 to ₹5,400, while participation in household decision-making increased from 45% to 82%. The Empowerment Index indicated that 56.7% of respondents achieved a high level of empowerment. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant relationship between duration of involvement and empowerment levels (χ² = 18.42, p < 0.05), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concludes that bamboo jewellery making not only enhances women’s financial independence but also strengthens their self-confidence and social visibility. It recommends targeted training, credit access, and market linkages to promote the craft as a viable model for gender-inclusive rural development in Assam.

Keywords:

Bamboo jewellery, Women empowerment, Handicrafts, Rural livelihood, Economic development.

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Methods