| Author | Bandaranayake, Padmini D. |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.HS-89-06 |
| Subject(s) | Women--Employment--Sri Lanka
Handloom industry--Sri Lanka
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the a ward of the Degree of Master of Science, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. HS-89-06 |
| Abstract | There is a growing realization that rural industries are an
important part of the industrialization process and in the
economy of developing countries. Hence, governments in developing
countries are taking policy measures and formulating strategies
to · promote rural industries . In Sri Lanka, after the change in
government in 1977, there has been changes in national
development policies which are believed to have affected rural
industries positively as well a s negatively. In this research we
looked at the changes that have taken place in handloom textile
industry by taking Kurunegala District (out of 25 districts > as a
sample.
In terms of importance, handloom textiles have been the most
important activity among rural industries in the country, with a
remarkable growth specially during the period of 1970-1977 with a
controlled situation. But all these changed with the Trade
Liberalization Programme in 1977. The most specific feature was
that, the import of textiles increased drastically from 20
million metres in 1977 to 96 million metres in the 1978/79
period. This created a strong competition for the handloom
products which also led to marketing problems. As such, with the
competition of imported textiles there has been a rapid decline
in the industry, resulting a decrease in the employment too. As
People's Bank estimates 40, ODO jobs were lost in handloom sector
alone and some think this figure too is an underestimate . This
study which lend support to this shows that, in the Kurunegala
District there were only 26 handloom units by April 1989,
compared with the 214 units which were there before 1977. The
number of weavers attached to these centres before 1977 were
5586 , but by April 1989 the number had reduced to 329. This shows
the drastic reduction of employment opportunities for women in
this industry.
Theoretically it is expected that certain adjustments are
required during a stabilization programme. In that process
movement of labour from less productive sectors to more
productive sectors is expected to take place. This is possible
only if' employment opportunities in more productive sectors
increase and if the new requirements can be met by those who get
displaced. The experience in the economy of Sri Lanka and in the
handloom textile industry shows that this process is not taking
place as expected and as a result the adjustment process is a
painful one for the rural women. |
| Year | 1989 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. HS-89-06 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Human Settlement (HS) |
| Chairperson(s) | Wickramanayake, B.W.E. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Demaine, Harvey ;Routray, Jayant Kumar
|
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Der Deutsche Akadernische
Austauschdienst ( DAAD) ,
German Academic Exchange Service; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1989 |
