Bamboo And Dhokra Crafts in Jharkhand: Unveiling Demographic Challenges and Government Scheme Awareness Among Women Artisans

Abstract

‘Cane & Bamboo’ and ‘Dhokra’ crafts are the two main handicrafts in the state of Jharkhand. Dhokra craft is the traditional craft of Jharkhand, while cane & bamboo craft is one of the most practiced craft in the state due to its abundant presence. The paper explores the demographic profile and outreach of government schemes for rural women artisans engaged in practicing two major crafts of Jharkhand, namely cane & bamboo and dhokra craft. It also highlights the importance of the above crafts in uplifting livelihoods of rural women artisans. The present study is based on primary data collected via random sampling in two villages of Lohardaga district, namely Kocha and Hirhi. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire from 50 rural women artisans, 37 cane & bamboo artisans and 13 dhokra artisans respectively. Different attributes of the demographic profile of the respondents were considered, like age, income, marital status, experience in the handicraft industry and time dedicated for making handicraft, measured in terms of number of working days in a year. The findings highlight the need for focused interventions to improve the well-being of craftswomen and highlight their lack of knowledge about government programs.