| Author | Pandey, Anita |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. HS-96-12 |
| Subject(s) | Rug and carpet industry--Nepal--Kathmandu--Employees
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-96-12 |
| Abstract | The carpet industry occupies strategic place in the Nepalese economy. It is the leading
export sector and the most important source of employment in the domain of manufacturing
industry. Highly labor intensive nature of the industry has allowed it to employ large number of
people, primarily from the rural areas. This study is organized to explore three major issues:
gender-based division of labor, skill mobility, and rural-urban linkage through labor movement,
as observed in the context of carpet industry.
The field research conducted in Kathmandu district between February-April of 1996,
included field observations, formal questionnaire survey on carpet weavers, interview with
factory owner/manager, and personal communication and secondary information collection
from the relevant organizations.
Gender-biassedness of the industry against women manifested in the exclusive
dominance of men at higher position of the job hierarchy such as loom master, graph master in
contrast to women's confinement to the lower status jobs like weaving is the outcome of
operation of many sub-cultures---mainly the ones based on educational level and other
common bonds and taboos which jointly form the societal culture. Nevertheless, among the
carpet weavers, female weavers save more than their male counterparts, despite their lower
earnmgs.
Non-institutionalization of the skill learning process in carpet weaving has given birth to
the circumstances favorable for the middlemen to exploit the laborers. In the name of learning
weaving workers have to endure exploitation for which they do not have any alternatives.
Women are most adversely affected by the prevailing working condition and terms. Their
complacent nature and ignorance make it easy for the middlemen to take advantage of them.
Reexamination of the age-long relationship between rural and urban economy proves
that rural-urban linkage, through labor movement in the carpet industry marginally benefits
rural areas in terms of limited remittances. On the other hand, urban environment also gets
adversely affected through effluents and wastes from the carpet factories.
Empowerment of women through education is the measure to increase their self-esteem
and enable them to utilize the opportunities equally as men so that centuries-old discrimination
between men and women would be reduced. Similarly, institutionalization of carpet weaving
training and relocation of the carpet industry are two key measures that will go a long way to
combat existing exploitation and to alter the age-old nature of unequal rural-urban relations. |
| Year | 1996 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-96-12 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Amin, A.T.M. Nurul ;Kelkar, Govind |
| Examination Committee(s) | Wickramanayake, B.W.E.; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Royal Netherlands Government ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1996 |