Sustainability and Gender Inequality Within Handloom Value Chains

Abstract

This paper empirically examines how and to what extent global value chains have impacted on the sustainability and gender inequality within the handloom value chain. The handloom sector in India contributes significantly to trade and offers livelihood opportunities to more than thirty three million workers. Traditionally, the handloom value chain involves family labour and women constitute a major portion of the handloom workforce in India. Many earlier studies suggest the positive impact of Global Value Chains (GVCs) by upgrading the capabilities of the stakeholders in the value chain but do not provide insights about the gendered social relations involved. As handloom production depends on human energy and thus sustainability of handloom depends on the human wellbeing. In this context, we examine both sustainability and inequality in terms of gendered labour relations in socio-economic mobility, level of income, access to health, credit, skill training and welfare schemes by giving a complete picture of the handloom value chain. The analysis is based on responses of 500 handloom workers employed across the Handloom Mega Cluster of Banaras' in India. The conceptual and analytical framework of the GVCs is used to analyze the transitional nature of insertion of economies in the global production and distribution process. Findings highlight the lack of capacity upgradation, as most of the handloom household workers face survival vulnerability and remain trapped in poor wellbeing due to low human capital, low productivity, and low income. In contrast to male workers, women workers are found at more disadvantage as they face social constraints and discrimination in access to market and welfare schemes. © The Electrochemical Society