Preliminary Survey on the Impact of Financial Crisison Poor & Marginalised Women and Men in India Chikan Craft IndustryBy SEW1!a"le of Contents1. Handicraft Industry................................................................................................31.1 The Importance of Handicrafts......................................................................31.2 Indian Handicraft Industry.............................................................................32. Chikan Craft Industry.............................................................................................42.1 History of Chikan Craft Industry...................................................................42.2 The Chikan Craft Process...............................................................................43. Methodology and esign of the !tudy..................................................................."3.1 #uestionnaires................................................................................................"3.2 Inter$ie% !chedule........................................................................................."3.3 &ocus 'roup iscussions..............................................................................."3.4 Case !tudies..................................................................................................."3.( !ample esign...............................................................................................)3.* ata +nalysis.................................................................................................)4. !ur$ey of Chikan Craft ,orkers............................................................................-4.1 emographic Profile of ,orkers...................................................................-4.1.1 +ge 'roup..............................................................................................-4.1.2 Caste Category.....................................................................................1.4.1.3 /eligion................................................................................................1.4.1.4 Type of &amily.....................................................................................1.4.1.( &amily !i0e...........................................................................................1.4.1.* Housing !tatus......................................................................................114.1." 1ccupation...........................................................................................114.1.) Monthly Income...................................................................................124.1.- 2ducation !tatus...................................................................................124.2 Impact of &inancial Crisis on ,orkers.........................................................124.2.1 Impact on 3o45 ,ork............................................................................124.2.2 /eason for Impact................................................................................134.2.3 Impact on Monthly Income..................................................................134.2.4 Impact on ,orking Hours....................................................................144.2.( Impact on 1ccupation..........................................................................144.2.* Impact on !ocial !ecurity 6enefit........................................................144.2." Impact on Children 2ducation.............................................................1(4.2.) Impact on aily &ood Intake................................................................1(4.2.- Impact on Housing...............................................................................1*4.2.1. Impact on Health and Medical Treatment............................................1*4.2.11 Impact on &amily /elations.................................................................1*(. !ur$ey of 2ntrepreneurs.......................................................................................1"(.1 +ny Change in 6usiness..............................................................................1"(.2 Type of eterioration in 6usiness................................................................1"(.3 Change in 7nit ,orkers...............................................................................1"(.4 Change in Production...................................................................................1)(.( Change in +$aila4ility of /a% Material.......................................................1)(.* !upport from +gencies5 1rganisation..........................................................1)*. Case !tudies.........................................................................................................1-*.1 /ukaiya4en Munna4hai !ikdi......................................................................1-*.2 8ammu Idrishi.............................................................................................1-". &indings of the !tudy...........................................................................................21). /ecommendations................................................................................................232#$ %andicraft IndustryHandicrafts are uni9ue e:pressions and represent a culture; tradition and heritage of acountry. The Handicraft Industry is one of the important producti$e sector.Handicrafts can 4e defined as products %hich are produced either completely 4y handor %ith the help of tools. Mechanical tools may 4e used as long as the direct manualcontri4utionoftheartisanremainsthemost su4stantial component ofthefinishedproduct. Handicrafts are made from ra% materials and can 4e produced in unlimitednum4ers. !uch products can 4e utilitarian; aesthetic; artistic; creati$e; culturallyattached; decorati$e; functional; traditional; religiouslyandsociallysym4olic andsignificant.#$# !he Importance of %andicrafts !he Cultural ImportanceHandicrafts play $ery important role in representing the culture and traditionsof any country or region. Handicrafts are a su4stantial medium to preser$e ofrich traditional art; heritage and culture; traditional skills and talents %hich areassociated %ith people including handicrafts are playing ma=or role in the economic de$elopmentof the country.3&$ Chikan Craft IndustryChikan is a fine art of em4roidery made %ith %hite unt%isted yarn %ith the help of aneedle on a fine cloth. It is done on $iol; silk; cam4ric; georgette; terry cotton etc. +tfirst; designs are printed on the cloth %ith %asha4le colours %hile different stitches orem4roidery %ork is done on cloth. This is a home 4ased industrial acti$ity %hich ismainly performed 4y %omen artisans and %orkers. &$# %istory of Chikan Craft IndustryThehistorical records of 1"thcenturyof 2ast IndiaCompanyre$eal that hakaproduced the fine em4roidery called ?Chikaneconomicconditionof %orkers in$ol$eintheindustry. ,hat has 4eentheimpact of the financial crisis on poor %omen and men employed direct and indirectlyin Chikan Craft industryG ,hat needs to 4e done to address the ad$erse impact onthese men and %omen %orkers 4elongings to the informal and marginalised segmentsof the %orkforceG ,hat kind of social security options can 4e made a$aila4le to poor%omenandmentocope%iththecrisistosustainhumande$elopment outcomesGThese 9uestions %ere the starting points of this en9uiry.-$# )emographic Profile of Workers-$#$# ge ,roupInthetotal sample)4percent %ere%omenrespondent and1*percent %eremenrespondent. +$erage age of men and %omen respondents together has 4een reported to4e 3. years. In that the a$erage age of %omen respondents has 4een reported to 4e 2-years andof men respondents has 4een reported to4e 3(years. Ho%e$er theproportion of middle age group %omen has 4een found significant. ge,roupMen Women !otal/o$ 1 /o$ 1 /o$ 1H 2. years 3 1- 2( 3. 2) 2)21 E 3. 4 2( 21 2( 2( 2(31 E 4. 4 2( 2" 32 31 3141 E (. 2 13 * " ) )(1 E a4o$e 3 1- ( * ) )1* 1.. )4 1.. 1.. 1.. --$#$& Caste CategoryMost of the ChikanCraft %orkers 4elongtothe 1ther 6ack%ardClass B16CCcommunity in the sur$ey (4 percent respondents 4elongs to this category. Aearly 32percent %orkers 4elong to others community; %orkers 4elong to schedule caste andschedule caste community is $ery minimal only * and 3 percent. Aearly all %orkers4elong to Muslims community are from 16C caste.Sr$ /o Caste Category 1 of Workers1 !chedule Caste *2 !chedule Tri4e 33 1ther 6ack%ard Class (-4 1thers 321..Source: Primary Survey-$#$( 2eligionChikan Craft %ork is dominated 4y Muslim community. In sur$ey also )2 percentrespondent 4elongs to Muslims community and 1* percent 4elongs to Hinducommunity respondent from other community is negligi4le only 2 percent.Sr$ /o 2eligion 1 of Workers1 Hindu 1*2 Muslims )23 1thers 21..Source: Primary Survey-$#$- !ype of FamilyAearly *2 percent sur$eyed %orkers are li$ing in =oint families %hile 3) percent areli$ing in nuclear families. The proportion of %orkers li$ing in nuclear families %asfoundhigher inMuslimcommunities. In%as alsocomeout inthefocus groupdiscussion that more than (. percent Muslims are li$ing in =oint families.Sr$ /o Caste Category 1 of Workers1 3oint &amily *22 Auclear &amily 3)1..Source: Primary Survey-$#$. Family Si3e!i0e of the family has 4een reported to 4e largeF it %as reported as high as 1( in somefamilies. Most of the respondents reported that they li$e in large families.1.Sr$ /o Family Si3e 11 2>3 132 4>( 3(3 *>" 3"4 )>- 1.( 1. > a4o$e (+$erage *Source: Primary Survey-$#$0 %ousing StatusThehousingconditions of ChikanCraft %orkers arefoundto4epathetic. Theygenerally li$e and %ork in congested; unhygienic and kachha houses. The sur$ey dataalsore$eals that nearly(.percent %orkersareli$inginsemi puccaandkachhahouses.Sr$/oStatus4!ype5achha Semi Pucca Pucca !otal/o$ 1 /o$ 1 /o$ 1 /o$ 11 1%n 1* ). 1) *. 44 )) ") ")2 /ented 4 2. 1. 33 * 12 2. 2.3 1ther . . 2 " . . 2 22. 1.. 3. 1.. (. 1.. 1.. 1..Source: Primary Survey-$#$6 Main 7ccupation of FamilyThe main occupation of family mem4ers of sur$eyed %orkers has 4een reported to 4ela4our; ser$iceandpetty4usiness. Ho%e$er; Chikancraft is4eingpracticedasasu4sidiaryoccupationto augmentfamilyincome.+mong thesur$eyed%orkers3)percent families are in$ol$e in petty 4usiness of making kites. @a4our %ork is mainoccupation of 23 percent families and Chikan Craft %ork is main occupation of 2"percent families.Sr$ /o Main 7ccupation 1 of Workers1 @a4our 232 6usiness 3)3 !er$ice "4 Chikan Craft ,ork 2"( 1thers (Source: Primary Survey11-$#$8 Working Mem"ers of the FamilyThe a$erage num4ers of %orking mem4ers ha$e 4een reported to 4e 2. In the sur$ey itcameout that in**percent families1>2mem4ersare%orkingandin31percentfamilies< 3>4 mem4ers are %orking. Sr$ /o Mem"er 11 1>2 **2 3>4 313 (>* 34 " > a4o$e .verage &Source: Primary Survey-$#$9 Monthly Income of the Family+$eragemonthlyincomeofsur$eyedfamilieshas4eenreportedto4e/s. 22(*..Aearly 4* percent families are earning less than /s 1(..5 month. Ma:imum sur$eyedfamilies are li$ing 4elo% po$erty line sho%ing high economic $ulnera4ility.Sr$ /o Income ,roup 1 1 H I 1(.. 4*2 1(.1 E 3... 2)3 3..1 E 4(.. 1)4 J 4(.. )verage &&.0:Source: Primary Survey-$#$#: 7ccupation of Worker This sur$ey is preliminary focus on understanding impact of financial crisis on theChikan Craft %orkers. In selection of sample respondents %ere strategically selectedas %orkers%ho areengagedin ChikanCraft %ork. The ChikanCraft %orkersare4roadly categories into three types of %orkers Chikan cloth processor; Chikan designimposer andChikanem4roiders. Clothprocessinganddesignimposingismainlydone 4y the male %orkers and %omen are in$ol$e in em4roidery %ork. These 4roadcategories are further di$ided into $arious su4 categories in Chikan em4roidery %orkthereare) typesof %orkers dependingon skilledle$el.ifferentspecialists %ork%ithdifferent types of stitches for e:ample; open%orkor =aali is not done4yem4roiderers %ho do the filling %ork E each %orker completes his5 her o%n %ork andthen fa4ric is sent to the ne:t em4roiderers. In selected respondents -3 percent areChikan em4roiders; 4 percent are Chikan cloth processors and 3 percent are Chikandesign imposer.Sr$ /o 7ccupation 1 of Workers1 Chikan 2m4roider -3122 Chikan Cloth Processor 43 Chikan esign Imposer 31..Source: Primary Survey-$#$## Monthly Income of Worker+$erage monthly income of sur$eyed %orkers has 4een reported to 4e /s. *21. Aearly*3 percent %orkers are earning less than /s (..5 month. Ma:imum sur$eyed %orkersare li$ing 4elo% po$erty line sho%ing high economic $ulnera4ility.Sr$ /o Income ,roup 1 of Workers1 /o income (2 ;ess than .:: *33 .:#ended9uestionnaires 4yo4taining9ualitati$e data fromtheselected %orkers. 6efore documenting case study of selected %orkers $ie%s of familymem4ers; representati$e of A'1s %ere also considered.0$# 2ukaiya"en Munna"hai Sikdi/ukaiya4en Munna4hai !ikdiF 2. yearsF 4orn 4thin her family of 13 including herfather and mother. Her elder 4rother is married and is ha$ing 2 childrenF a girl and a4oy. They ha$e 4een li$ing together in the present house 4y 4irth./ukaiya4en has studied up to -th in a municipal school. !he learns Chikan Craft %orksince %hen she %as " from her friends along %ith her studies. Her father %as a tailor4ut could not %ork no% due to lo% eyesight as a result of prolonged dia4etes.Her 4rother %ho %orks in a cycle shop earns /s 4...5 month. The other t%o 4rothers* hours a dayespecially at fine and intricate em4roidery. !he can; normally; %ork for 2>3 hours in aday. Her health is se$erely affected; her eye>sight is 4ad; she gets constant head>aches;4ack>aches and neck>aches. Her fingers are sore and e$en ha$e holes in them.@ack of opportunity; corruption in the go$ernment support system;non>payment ofdues; NplagiarismO of design and e$en products; are the main reasons for their poorcondition 8ammu complained. 2$en in this crisis condition go$ernment is not doinganything to support Chikan Craft %orkers. 6$ Findings of the Study1. The Chikan Craft Industry is one of the informal sector in India that suffersfrom a lo% producti$ity syndrome; compared to the formal sector. Preliminarysur$ey carried out to understand impact of financial crisis on %orkers re$ealedthat since 2.."; %orkers %orking in this industry %ere suffering from lo%er22real %ages and poor %orking5li$ing conditions. &urther; due to financial crisis%hich 4egan in 1cto4er 2..) had made economic condition of these %orkersmore se$ere. They ha$e 4een %orking on lo% %ages 4ut due to financial crisistheamount of%orktheyget isreduced4ynearly".percent resultingin%orsening their situation.2. Itcameout in thesur$eythatalmost all%orkers inthe Industry aregoingthroughma=or crisis. Aearly(percent %orkersarecompletely=o4less; 2"%orkers %ho %ere earlier %orking =o4 centres are %orking from home due tocloser of =o4 centres and 22 percent %orkers are no% %orking for more hours.Aearly 22 percent %orkers are undertaking more %ork to compensate decreasein piece rate. 3. &inancial crisis has se$ere impact on monthly income of %orkers. It came outin the sur$ey that 4efore crisis a$erage monthly income of %orkers %as /s-"); %hichdecrease4y33percent to/s*21aftercrisis. 6eforecrisis4)percent %orkers %ere earning /s. (.1 to 1... after crisis it gone do%n to 21percent. 1n other hand percentage of %orkers earning less than (.. increasesfrom 32 percent to *4 percent.In the sur$ey it came out that there are t%o4asic reasons for decrease income first they are not getting continuous %orkand second due to less %ork and more %orker employers are 4argaining hardto lo%er do%n price rate of %ork. 4. !ur$ey doesnstakeholders; including ci$il society organisations; go$ernment; trade unions;media; corporate sector and others.). 1ne dedicated hospital 4e set up in @uckno% and or in ad=oining area to curethe ailments afflicting the %ea$ers. 1ccupational diseases such as num4nessin the lim4s; deterioration of eyesight etc.-. CrPches and educational 5 nutritional facilities for children of %orking mothersneed to 4e esta4lished; to ensure participation of %omen and proper care oftheirchildrenduringtheira4sencefromhome. Mo4ileCrPches; %hoha$ee:perience of %orking %ith the children of the unorganised sector could 4econtacted for trainings 5 running of the centres.1.. To further understanding the needs of %omen %orkers and creation of specialena4lingmechanismstohelpfacilitatetheirroleintheindustryisneeded.!pecial fundfor%omen%orkerscouldhelpthem4ecomingeconomicallyindependent.2*