Women Weavers in Mizoram: Sustaining Livelihood through Cluster Development

The handloom industry continues to play an important role in the Indian economy, providing employment to 27.83 lakh households. Nearly 77 per cent of this workforce comprises women who are located in rural areas. This article is a study of Thenzawl handloom cluster in Mizoram, a remote corner of India’s north-east, which has become a model of entrepreneurship for underprivileged tribal women. The researchers undertook the mapping of Thenzawl handloom cluster and observed that of the 205 micro handloom enterprises operating there interestingly, 98 per cent of the entrepreneurs were women. We highlight the impact of micro handloom enterprises on livelihood in terms of the extent of dependence of entrepreneur households on handloom enterprises, the proportion of small weavers (on the basis of looms owned) and income earned from the enterprises in the cluster. The article also offers suggestions to initiate cluster development activities in the cluster to enable it to sustain their initiative and grow.